


% 











I 


I 

1 


\ 

t 


t 

i 

I 


% ' 


t 




* 







I 





/ 

COUNTESS GISELA 



KROM TUB O-BRIVtAN 


or 


E. MARLITT, 


AUTHOB or "THE OLD MAH’SSLLE'S SECRET," "GOLD ELSIE," ETQL 


BY MBS. A. L. WISTER. 

1 



PHILADELPHIA 

J. B. LIPPINCOTT & GO 
1879 


// 


^7 1..7 

Sj-0 



Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1869, by 
J. E. LIPPINCOTT A 00., 

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the baited States for the 
Eastern District of Pennsjlrania. 


r 


i C * 
t 

t t C < 


c‘ 


0 

K 

C 

< 

< < c 


c 

< ( 




t t 


COUNTESS GISELA 


CHAPTER I. 

It was early in the evening. The bell in the little 
tower at Neuenfeld raised its voice dutifully and struck 
six, but it sounded like a half-stifled moan ; for the wind 
raged through all the openings in the belfry and blew 
the thin sound abroad to the four quarters of the heavens 
and the impenetrable darkness of a gloomy night in De- 
cember already covered the earth with a pall. Who, 
in face of the storm-clouds that were scurrying and toss- 
ing between earth and sky, could remember the unchang- 
ing light of the sparkling stars shining behind all that 
tempest with a splendour as radiant as ever flooded 
the most cloudless, fragrance-breathing night in May? 
Who ever thought of moonlight, or the gentle beams of 
stars, within those four grim walls, that stood out in their 
naked ugliness in the midst of the gloom, defying the 
blast which swept by them powerless to injure ? Within 
there was glow and sparkle enough, but the light was 
of that dismal brilliancy which is emitted by a gigantic 
flame guided and controlled by human hands. The Neu- 
enfeld furnace was in full blast. 

A dazzling ray of crimson light streamed forth from 
the mass of fire on the hearth, and illuminated the bare 
freestone walls and the moist and blackened faces of the 
workmen. 

That luminous, bubbling mass, dripping in flaming tears 

( 3 ) 


4 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


from the casting-ladle, had lain for thousands of years in 
the bowels of the earth as fragments of metal, which 
now, mingling together for one fiery moment of seething 
life, congealed into whatever shape human caprice might 
devise. 

The windows of the huge buildings, seen from with- 
out, were only dully illuminated ; but a volume of light 
streamed upward from the chimney, as it now and then 
emitted millions of sparks, which glittered like stars, flung 
by some daring hand up toward the vaulted sky, and then 
fell back and were extinguished in the darkness, — as inef 
fectual against its blackness as a.re human thoughts to 
break the seven seals of the mystery by which we are 
encompassed. 

Just as it struck six the door of the house of the over- 
seer of the foundry — not very far from the huge buildings 
we have described — was gently opened, and, as the sound 
of the door-bell, usually so shrill and prolonged, died 
away silenced by a careful hand, a woman appeared upon 
the threshold. 

“ Oh, dear I oh, dear I winter is really here I Here ^ 
comes our beautiful Christmas snow she cried. There 
was a kind of glad surprise in her tone, as if at the sud- 
den reappearance of an old friend. The voice was almost 
too full and sonorous for a woman, but that mattered 
very little to the parish children of Neuenfeld, who 
hearkened to the voice of their pastor’s wife as though 
what it uttered were Gospel indeed. 

The woman cautiously descended the slippery steps. 
For one moment there was a lull in the storm, and the 
snow fell quietly, sparkling and dancing in the long, 
feeble rays of light that streamed from her lantern. 

But, on a sudden, a fierce blast whirled around the cor- 
ner, blowing over her head the cape of the cloak which she 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


5 


wore, and tossing hither and thither the white down that 
lay upon the earth. 

She threw back her cape, and with her left hand set- 
tled the comb more firmly in the thick braids of hair at 
the back of her head, while she drew the handkerchief 
which was tied beneath her chin over her ears. The firm, 
strong-limbed figure stood like a giantess in the midst of 
the whirling tempest of snow, and the light from her lan- 
tern illuminated features full of vigour, — one of those 
energetic faces over which the grim breath of winter, as 
well as the chances and changes of existence, sweeps 
harmlessly. 

"‘Now I have something to say to you, my dear over- 
seer,” she said, turning to the man who had come to the 
door with her and was standing upon the threshold. 
“ I could not say it inside there. My drops are excellent, 
and there is nothing better than elder-flower tea, — but it 
can do no harm to have old Rosa sit up to-night; and per- 
haps you had best have one of the men from the foundry 
here, in case you should have to send for the doctor.” 

The man looked startled. 

“ Courage, courage, my friend I We cannot always 
sail through life on smooth seas,” said the pastor^s wife, 
cheerily. “And, for the matter of that, a doctor is not 
a wehr-wolf, and there is no need to fear the worst, even 
if he should be sent for. I would willingly stay my- 
self, for I can see very plainly that you are no hero in a 
sick-chamber, — but my little savages at home must have 
their supper ; the key of the cellar is in my pocket, and 
Rosamunde cannot get at the potatoes; so good-night I 
Remember to give the drops regularly, — I shall be back 
again early to-morrow morning.” 

She went. Her dress waved and fluttered in the wind, 
and the pale, flickering light of her lantern crept along, 

1 * 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


I 

now illuminating some small part of the path, and now 
gliding over the knotty trunks of the trees by the way- 
Bide, — but, however the tempest might rage and roar be- 
hind her, the woman’s footsteps were not hurried by it, 
but sounded firm and regular, until they died away in the 
distance. 

The overseer stood for one moment upon the threshold 
of the door, following with his eyes the consoling glim- 
mer of the lantern until it was lost to sight. 

The storm lulled for a moment ; the roar of the waters 
of the dam could be heard in the distance, and the dull 
noise of the work going on in the foundry was audible. 
Hurried footsteps now approached, and, in a few mo- 
ments, a man appeared, coming around the corner of the 
house. His spare figure was wrapped in a military 
cloak, he had secured his cap upon his head by a pocket- 
handkerchief tied beneath his chin, and a broad stream 
of light fell upon the path before him from the stable- 
lantern which he carried in his left hand. 

“What I standing at the open door in this storm?” he 
cried, as the light of his lantern fell upon the figure of 
the overseer. “Aha! — the student has not got home, 
then, and you are looking out for him, eh ?” 

“ Oh, no. Berthold has been here since early in the 
afternoon, but he is ill, and I am very anxious about him. 
Come in, Sievertl” 

They went into the house together. 

The overseer opened the door of a large, rather low 
room. Without, the tempest beat with reawakened 
fury against the old walls, upon which within placid, 
kindly family portraits were hanging. Now and then 
a keen blast would penetrate the cracks in the window- 
frames and stir the huge flowered curtains, but they 
hung closely before the panes, and excluded all sight of 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


T 


the driving snow outside. If there is anything that 
more than all else adds to the air of comfort in the 
large, living-rooms of the dwellings in the Thuringian 
forest, it is the big, tiled stove which sometimes does 
not relax its activity, even in the height of the summer. 
Here it projected far into the apartment, and the glow- 
ing tiles diffused a delicious warmth through the atmos- 
phere. 

Thus the quaintly-furnished room was well adapted 
to create a sense of comfort, had it not been for the 
ominous fragrance of the elder-flower tea, which was 
very perceptible. A shade, hastily constructed of green 
paper, darkened the light of the lamp; and the pen- 
dulum of the wooden clock hanging on the wall was 
motionless, — all which betrayed the careful hand of a 
woman. 

The object of this caution and care seemed inclined 
to rebel most decidedly against the invalid role assigned 
to him. He was very young, — and was impatiently and 
unceasingly rolling his head from side to side among the 
white pillows of the couch that had been improvised for 
him upon the sofa, — the warm covering that had been 
thrown over him was half upon the ground, — and he 
was just pushing the full teacup peevishly away from 
him when the two men entered the room. 

Let us glance at the overseer as he stands in the full 
light of the unshaded half of the lamp. He is a strikingly 
handsome young man of fine presence. We can hardly 
understand how he can move so easily in this low apart- 
ment, — we almost expect to see his curls brush the 
ceiling. His very blonde hair and beard contrast oddly 
with his finely-pencilled dark eyebrows, which meet 
above his eyes, giving an air of melancholy to his coun- 
tenance. Popular superstition finds in this peculiarity 


8 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


a sign of coming misfortune, — ^the sure omen of an ui> 
happy fate. 

It certainly never would occur to a stranger to sup- 
pose that any tie of blood could exist between this dig- 
nified figure and the invalid. There we have a thin, 
boyish face, with a pale alabaster-like complexion, a 
Roman profile, and clustering blue-black curls; and here 
the genuine German type, — a strong, vigorous fair-haired 
man, — suggestive of the Thuringian silver-leaved fir. 
And yet the two are brothers, — owning no other tie of 
kindred except that which binds each to each. 

The overseer hastened to the sofa, lifted the covering 
from the floor, and spread it carefully over the invalid ; 
then taking the despised and rejected teacup, he held it 
to his brother’s lips silently but with an air of quiet de- 
termination that was not to be resisted. The rebellious 
patient suddenly grew gentle, and emptied the cup duti- 
fully to the dregs ; then, with a gesture of almost pas- 
sionate tenderness, he seized his brother’s hand and drew 
it down beside him, pillowing his cheek upon it. 

In the mean time the man in the military cloak also 
approached. 

“ How, young Herr, is this the way to march to quarters ? 
Fie for shame I” he said, putting his lantern upon the 
table. What he said was meant to pass for a jest, but 
his peculiarly harsh and unmodulated voice gave it 
more the character of a coarse, blunt reproof, — an effect 
which was heightened by the stern cast of his counte- 
nance ; his features looked almost gypsy-like, enveloped 
as they were in the gay, scarlet, cotton pocket-handker- 
chief. 

The invalid started up, — his pale face was suffused 
with a crimson flush, and his sparkling eyes were riveted 
upon the intruder, whom he had not observed before. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


9 


His right hand made an involuntary movement toward 
the embroidered cap, — the badge of his dignity as a 
student and member of the university, — that lay upon 
the table. 

“Never mind, Berthold,” said the overseer, smiling. 
“ It is only our old Sievert ” 

“ Eh I — what should this young fellow know of old 
Sievert?” the man in the military cloak dryly interposed. 
“ The full-blown youth forgets how good his pap tasted, 
eh, Herr Student? There, just in the spot where you 
are lying, the cradle once stood, and the sturdy little 
rogue in it was kicking and screaming for his dead 
mother, and knocking the pap-spoon out of his father’s 
and Rosa’s hands, — the deuce knows what you found so 
charming in my face, — but messenger after messenger 
was sent to the castle, and Sievert had to conxe and feed 
the little fellow. Ah I how he laughed then I The tears 
were running doWn his cheeks, but he swallowed his 
pap greedily.” 

The student stretched both hands across the table to 
the speaker. The expression of boyish defiance on his 
features gave place to an almost girlish gentleness. 
“ My father has often told me about it all,” he said, 
softly; “ and since Theobald has been overseer at Neuen- 
feld, he has frequently written to me about you.” 

“ Yes, yes, no doubt,” growled Sievert, who evidently 
wished to avoid further explanations. He threw open 
his cloak, and the figure that he presented made the stu- 
dent laugh aloud. A tin kettle and a willow basket con- 
taining bread hung upon his right arm ; a bunch of tallow 
candles dangled from one of the buttons of his coat in front, 
and the glass stopper of a flask of rum and the end of a 
plump paper package peeped from one of his breast pockets. 

“ Yes, yes, you may well laugh,” ^aid the old rqan. 


10 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


This time there was a decided mixture of annoyance as 
well as a shade of resignation audible in his tone. “ Then 
I was child’s nurse, and now I am scullery-maid. What 
is a fellow to do I The old Frau never drinks goat’s milk. 
Fraulein Jutta knows that better than I do; but if 1 
don’t remember to have cow’s milk brought from the 
village there is never any in the house. To-day I came 
heme from the forest with a fine bundle of fagots, tired 
to death, and looking forward to a little rest in the warm 
room, — when, the milk was forgotten, there was not a 
crumb of bread in the cupboard, and the last end of 
candle was burning in the candlestick; and Fraulein 
Jutta stormed away as though a banquet were to be pre- 
pared for the Emperor of Morocco, and talked about com- 
pany to tea, — that capped the climax. I should like to 
know how she would have entertained the Herr Student. 
Oh, if ” 

During Sievert’s tirade the overseer had grown crim- 
son with vexation. At the last exclamation he lifted his 
forefinger and darted such an angry glance at the old man, 
that he left his sentence unfinished and turned away his 
head. But the student, on the other hand, was the per- 
sonification of earnest attention. He leaned both arms 
upon the table, and regarded the speaker fixedly. 

“ Yes, and I dare not give the old Frau black bread to 
eat,” Sievert continued, after a pause, “ and so I ran all 
the way to Arnsberg, and the steward at the castle had, 
nolens nolens, to let me have this here. And, as for him, 
he does not know whether he is on his head or his heels. 

The cook from A is at work in the kitchen, and half 

a dozen new servants are running hither and thither, 
sweeping and dusting, and warming and lighting the 
castle. His Excellency, the Minister, is coming this very 
jlight to Ariisberg, in spite of wind and storm. Typhus 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


11 


fever has broken out in A , and in his own house, 

and he is hurrying the little Countess to that lonely 
Arnsberg for safety.’’ 

The handsome face of the overseer expressed intense 
annoyance. He walked several times hastily to and fro 
in the room. 

“And do you know how long the minister will re- 
main here ?” he asked, standing still. 

Sievert shrugged his shoulders. 

“How should I know?” said he. “For my part, I 
believe he cares more for his own precious carcass than 
for the child ; and I suppose he’ll stay till the fellow with 
the hour-glass and scythe leaves A .” 

It was evident that this was no good news to the 
young man. He stood still, thoughtfully, for one mo- 
ment in the middle of the room, but made no further 
remark upon the subject. 

“Sievert,” he said, after a pause, “do you remember 
Herr von Eschebach?” 

“Why, yes. He was physician to Prince Heinrich, and 
cured me of a broken arm once. About sixteen years 
ago he went across the water, and no one has heard tale 
or tidings of him since. I suppose he’s food for fishes by 
this time.” 

“ Not yet, Sievert!” said the overseer, smiling. “ This 
afternoon a letter, that has travelled far, arrived here, 
addressed to my dead father. It is from the man whom 
you suppose dead, and written with his own hand. He 
says that he remembers with melancholy pleasure the 
time when he used to come from Castle Arnsberg to the 
overseer’s cot to eat thickened milk beneath the lindens. 
He is unmarried and childless, and possesses large mines 
in Brazil, where he leads a solitary hermit’s life; and, in 
conclusion, he entreats my father to send him out one of 


12 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


his sons, as he is often ailing and suffering, and in need 
of a friend.” 

“Aha, there will be a fat inheritance!” 

“ You know, Sievert, that nothing could induce me 
to leave Neuenfeld,” said the overseer, curtly. 

“And I shall most certainly not desert Theobald. 
Uerr von Eschebach may keep his gold and silver 
mines for himself!” cried the student, eagerly, while 
two bright crimson spots began gradually to appear on 
his cheeks. 

“Well, well, let him keep them!” muttered Sievert, 
seating himself mechanically upon a chair, and seeming 
lost in thought. “ Indeed, and so he has grown rich !” 
he said, after awhile, thoughtfully rubbing his stubbly, 
gray-bearded chin. “ He used to be a poor, starving 
wretch ” 

“And why did he go to Brazil?” the student inter- 
rupted him. 

“Ah, why! You ask more than I know. But I’ve 
thought sometimes that a single stormy night drove him 
away.” 

Just at this moment a loud, shrill blast came whist- 
ling around the corner. The windows shook, and a tile 
fell clattering from the roof upon the ground outside. 

“ Do you hear that ?” asked Sievert, pointing, with 
his thumb over his shoulder, towards the window. “ It 
was just such a winter’s night, — a night on which hell 
seemed let loose in the Thuringian forest. The storm 
howled and shrieked and whistled around, and against 
the old walls of Arnsberg, so that the pictures shook 
inside, and the flames were blown down the chimney 
across the hearth into the rooms ; it seemed as if the 
castle was to be swept off the face of the earth. The 
next morning all the statues in the garden of the castle 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


13 


w^ere overthrown, huge trees were shattered and splint- 
ered like reeds, and the court-yard was strewn all over 
with fragments of glass, broken tiles, and even pieces of 
window-frames ; but the black flag waved from the torn 
roof, and the castle bells were tolling, for Prince Hein- 
rich had died in the night.” 

He was silent for a moment, and then he laughed 
hoarsely. 

“ What good did all their tolling do them I” he con- 
tinued. “ What good did her black crape veils and trains 
do the Princess, or the black-edged gazette the country, — 
every one knew well enough there was enmity between 
them to the very last. You must know that, over- 
seer 1” 

“Yes. I was but a child then, but can very well 
remember the animosity existing between the Prince at 

Arnsberg and the court at A , and that the Prince 

would not allow his people to have any intercourse with 
the royal suite; my father being governmental overseer 
suffered from the prohibition.” 

“ True, and which of the gentlemen then adhered to 
Prince Heinrich, and stayed with him at Arnsberg?” . 

“Why, your own master, Sievert, Major von Zwei- 
flingen, with Herr von Eschebach, and the present Prime 
Minister, Baron Fleury. 

“Yes, he indeed I” and Sievert laughed scornfully, — 
“he was always a sly one. The other two never went 
near the town, let alone the court, — but his Excellency 
was always bowing and scraping hither and thither. The 
deuce knows how he managed it, but each party was blind 
when he was paying court to the other. Such a French 
braggart as he, is sure to go down, even with us, 
cautious Germans that we are. Yes, the court party at 

A thought he might be useful in bringing about a 

2 


14 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


reconciliation and helping them to their inheritance, — 
aha ! — the woman’s wit that was in the way of that was 
too much for the whole of ’em!” 

“ The Countess Ydldern?” interposed the overseer, and 
his face grew dark. 

“ Yes, yes I the Countess Ydldern, over there at Greins- 
feld. The Prince called her his friend, — but the people 
were not so polite, they called her something else, and 
they were right. Worthless creature I her measure of sin 
and ungodliness was heaped up and pressed down, — but 
there was no punishment for her. The wretched woman 
died as calmly and peacefully as though she had lived 
the life of the righteous. She never suffered but once in 
her life, and that was upon that very night !” 

What memories those must have been, that, rising 
upon the old man’s consciousness, so completely altered 
his usual demeanour I Nothing could be more strongly 
indicative of silent reserve than those closely-shut lips, 
that depression of the corners of the mouth ; and yet that 
silent tongue was now garrulous, — the harsh, monotonous 
voice was so striking in the expression of contempt and 
hatred that it conveyed, that the invalid forgot the 
feverish throbbing of his temples, while his brother list- 
ened breathlessly to revelations of events which were 
already partly known to him in their consequent devel- 
opment. 

“ People at the castle had been whispering about for 
some time that the reign of the Countess was drawing to 
a close,” Sievert continued. “Every one had noticed 
some sign of it in the Prince’s demeanour, — she alone 
was blind in the matter ; and because the Prince one fine 
day took it into his head to compliment his dead wife, 
she instantly determined to give a great masked-ball 
at her estate, and to give it just on the very anniversary 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


15 


of the poor dear Princess’ death, — that was the drop toe 
much, — the Prince grew white with anger, and com- 
manded her sternly to postpone her mummery; — but 
she laughed in his face, and, turning upon her heel, de- 
clared that the day suited her exactly, and that she 
would have a special illumination in honour of the 
Princess. 

“ So the evening came, and to the surprise of every one, 
and most of all of the Countess herself, the Prince stayed 
at home, — and the three gentlemen, my Major, Baron 
Fleury, and Herr von Eschebach, who had been invited, 
had to stay with him. The Prince liked me, and in the 
evening, when he was at cards with the gentlemen, he 
dismissed his lackeys, and I was left alone to await his 
orders in the antechamber. 

“ There I sat, all alone on the window-seat, and listened 
to the terrible tumult outside. Lord I what strange 
tunes the wind howls around such an old castle 1 Every- 
thing that those old walls have heard and seen joins in, 
— tourneys and banquets, — all kinds of dead festivities,— 
and a long count of sin and crime I Eleven o’clock had 
just struck, — not a light had yet been extinguished in the 
castle, — people did not dare to go to bed, — when all at 
once chairs were overthrown in the adjoining room, — the 
bell sounded like an alarum, and when I opened the 
door, there was Prince Heinrich, leaning back in his arm- 
chair, deadly pale, his eyes wide open, and the blood 
pouring from his mouth and nostrils. The people came 
running in the greatest terror and confusion, but they 
were not admitted ; even I could not go in again. 

“ Herr von Eschebach understood his case, — he was the 
best doctor far and near ; but ’tis true enough, no drug cures 
death, — the Prince’s hour had struck, — and, suddenly, 
Baron Fleury appeared from the chamber, and asked for 


16 


COUNTESS CIS EL A 


a horse. ‘The Prince is dying, ^ he said to the groom of 
the stables, so loud that every one around heard him, — 

‘to ride to A in such a night as this is suicidal ; but 

the Prince wishes to be reconciled to his Royal Highness, 
— he would be a coward, indeed, who would not risk his 
life in such a cause I’ Five minutes afterward I heard 
him galloping along the road to A . From that mo- 

ment there was breathless silence all through the castle. 
Let the Countess dance, — dance until the Prince had the 
hand of his lawful heir in his. I stood at the window 
again counting the minutes — it would have taken a clever 
horseman a full hour to reach the town. 

“ My Major and Herr von Eschebach were with the 
Prince; he was perfectly conscious. When I stood near 
the door I could distinctly hear him dictating to the 
gentlemen in a jerking, gasping voice. There lay Castle 
Greinsfeld, — if the night had been clear I could have 
seen the illumination in ‘ honour of the Princess Hein- 
rich,’ — a brilliant point in the landscape. Hey I dance 
and make merry, I thought, as the castle clock boomed 
twelve. One hour more and your dance will have cost 
you a million, — at that moment the storm began afresh, 
— a chimney toppled over, and the stones tumbled down 
upon the pavement in the court-yard, but, in the midst 
of the crash, I heard something like the rolling of 
wheels and the clatter of horses’ hoofs. The door flew 
open, and there she stood. Lord I there the woman 
stood ! Satan must have brought her there I To this 
day no one knows how it happened, or who was the 
traitor. She tore off her fur wrappings, threw them upon 
the ground, and ran to the chamber of death, but I was 
standing before the door with my hand upon the latch. 

“ ‘ No one is allowed to enter, gracious Countess,’ I said. 
For one moment she stood as if stiffened to stone ; her 


COUNTESS GTSELA H 

glittering eyes pierced me through and through like 
daggers. 

Insolent wretch ! you shall pay dear for this 1' she 
hissed. ‘ Out of my path !’ 

“But I never stirred. They must have heard some- 
thing inside the room, for my Major came out then. He 
closed the door behind him, and stood in my place, while 
I stepped aside. It was strange, — suddenly something 
appeared in his face that I did not like. You have seen 
the Countess, overseer 

“Yes, she was reckoned one of the most beautiful 
women of her time. Her picture is still hanging over 
there in Castle Arnsberg, — a lithe, slender figure, large, 
iustrous, coal-black eyes, a skin like ivory, and masses of 
'air, shining, golden hair.” 

“ That is she I” interposed Sievert, smiling grimly at 
«he description. “ The deuce only knows how she man- 
aged it I She was then far beyond thirty, and had a 
daughter seventeen years old, but she looked like roses 
and alabaster. The youngest of them all could not come 
near her, and no one knew that better than she did, — 
miserable dissembler that she was! She fell down before 
my master, and clasped his knees with her white arms. 
She was still in her masquerade dress, — it gleamed and 
glittered, — and her yellow hair, all tossed by the tem- 
pest, trailed upon the ground, while a small crimson 
stream trickled down the side of her face, and lay upon 
her white neck like a little snake. Hm ! there must 
have been some snake at work to taint a man’s honour 
which had never been sullied before. Lord I how I tin- 
gled to drive the arch-fiend from the door where there 
should have been no place for her ; — and he stood there 
pale as ashes, horrified at a little scratch upon her fore- 
head, which had been grazed by a stone from the falling 
B 2* 


18 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


masonry outside, — why did it not fall with a surer aim I 
‘ I am wounded,’ she said, faintly, as if she were swoon- 
ing; ‘you will not see me die here, Zweiflingen?’ And 
she grasped his hand, and put it to her false, treacherous 
lips. And then a fiery glow flushed his face ; he raised 
her from the ground, and, — how it happened I cannot 
tell: she was a very demon of guile and cunning, — in the 
twinkling of an eye she was in the room, and had flung 
herself down at the bedside. ‘ Go, go I’ cried the Prince, 
and pushed her away with his hands ; hut in an instant 
a stream of blood gushed from his mouth, and in ten 
minutes all was over with him. 

“ They say the night is no man’s friend,” the old sol- 
dier interrupted himself with a discordant laugh, “but i1 
is a good friend to rogues. I should like to know if the 
Frau Countess would have found herself sole heir if that 
room of death had been filled with sunlight, — I rather 
think not. When the Prince had breathed his last she 
arose, without a trace of emotion, or even a tear upon 
her pale cheeks, and closed the door in my face. And 
then, for half an hour, she talked to those men, — about 
what I could not hear, — I could only hear deadly terror 
in the tones of her voice. After that the two gentlemen 
came out and announced the death of the Prince. My 
Major passed by me as though I were a stock or stone, — 
he never looked at me. I said before, that hell seemed to 
have broken loose in the forest, — well, the Frau Countess 
was Frau Yenus on that night, and I know very well 
who was the Tannhaiiser. My master was a doomed 
man from that time, — but the Countess was the richest 
woman in all the country round. The will that was found 
dated from a time when the animosity between the Prince 
and the court had been most violent and the Countess’ 
influence with the Prince paramount. It was all legally 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


19 


correct, and formally drawn up ; it could not possibly bo 
disputed in any court of law. Whatever there was be- 
longed to the Countess, — not a poor man in the country 
got a single groschen.” 

“ What a confounded shame that the Prince came too 
late I’^ exclaimed the student, striking his fist upon the 
table. 

“ Too late ?” repeated Sievert ; “ he never came at all. 
Towards morning some peasants caught a riderless horse 

in the vicinity of A , and Baron Fleury was found in 

a ditch by the roadside. He had been thrown from his 
horse while riding to the town, and was so bruised in 
every limb that he could not stir from the spot. What a 
sight he was when he was brought to the castle on a lit- 
ter I His clothes were torn and covered with mud, and 
his hair, that used to be freshly oiled and curled every 
day, hung over his face like a gypsy’s elf-locks. But it 
was well made up to him. He had not ventured his life 
in vain that his Royal Highness might enjoy his rightful 
inheritance, — and, in the end, he became minister.” 

“And Herr von Eschebach ?” asked the student. 

“Why, yes, Herr von Eschebach?” Sievert repeated, 
rubbing his forehead. “ Why, it was because of him that 
I told this wretched story. Well, he vanished, as it were, 
from that night. At first he was tolerably contented and 
cheerful, and rode over continually to Greinsfeld; but 

that only lasted a couple of days. He moved to A , 

and on the very day of the marriage at Greinsfeld — the 
young Countess married Count Sturm — he left the country. 
Well, he could easily go where he chose at any moment; 
he had no wife or child like my Major.” 

During the old man’s last words the overseer had 
stepped to one of the windows and parted he curtains. 
Instantly the room was filled with the fragrance of 


20 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


flowers, — violets, majflowers, and dafifodils were bloom- 
ing in pots upon the window-seat. With an unsparing 
hand the young man plucked the finest blossoms, and 
wrapped them carefully in silver paper. As Sievert 
finished, he looked back over his shoulder, and caught a 
glimpse of his brother’s inquisitive glance; then a bright 
blush suffused his cheeks and brow. 

“And now let those old stories rest, Sievert,” he cried, 
cutting short the old soldier’s narrative. “ You have your- 
self made good much that should have been performed, 
but has been neglected by others. You are the trusty 
Eckhardt ” 

“ But quite against my own will, — entirely against my 
will, overseer,” cried Sievert, angrily, hastily rising and 
collecting his packages. “If any man ever loved his 
master, I loved mine. I would have gone through fire 
and water for him, as long as he was strict and good, 
and a man of untarnished honour. But the Countess 
made a fool of him ; he became her puppet, — he played 
and drank with Baron Fleury and such as he ; night 
after night he joined in all their ‘noble frivolities.’ He 
ill treated his wife, — his wife who would have given her 
heart’s blood, drop by drop, for him, — and then I grew 
enraged, and I hated and despised him ; and it was well 
for both of us that he dismissed me. And now they say 
he died upon the ‘ field of honour.’ It sounds very fine, 
and wipes away a multitude of sins ; but if some poor 
fellow becomes bankrupt, and makes away with himself 
in his despair, every one cries out upon him. Why, he 
had gamed away everything except that wretched bar- 
rack, the forest-house, and my lady Countess would have 
nothing more to say to a beggar ; and so the last of the 
ron Zweiflingens went to Schleswig-Holstein, plunged 
.nto the thickest of the fight, and got a bullet through his 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


21 


brains. But of course it was no suicide, — ^no one would 
be rash enough to say it was. He saved his honour as a 
gentleman; and for his widow, she must get along as best, 
she could. His noble hands could throw away money; 
but they were too high-born for honest labour which 
might have replaced what he had squandered ; they 
could not possibly so degrade themselves.” 

He threw his cloak over his shoulders, and seized his 
lantern. “ Well, I have relieved, my mind,” he said, with 
a deep-drawn sign. “ If you had not mentioned the name 
of Eschebach, I should never have done it. And now I 
will go home, and bear the yoke as best I may. Only 
one more word, overseer. Never call me trusty Eckhardt 
again. He had a heart filled with love and patience, and 
that I have not, — most certainly not. The Major might 
have left me ten such letters as were found upon him 
after the battle of Ilstedt, and I should never have gone to 
his wife and daughter, for the old love was dead in my 
heart ; but there was once a time when my father was 
in danger of being turned off from his farm, in conse- 
quence of some worthless lawsuits, and the Major paid 
for the services of the best lawyer in the country, and 
my old father kept his property, which had descended to 
him from his father. I thought of that time, and packed 
up my few possessions, and became steward, scullery- 
maid, woodman, charwoman, etc. etc. to Frau von Zwei- 
flingen.” 

The expression of bitter scorn in the old soldier^syoice 
was heightened by the ironical air of dignity that he as- 
sumed while recounting his various functions. His air 
and manner evidently annoyed and wounded the over- 
seer. He compressed his lips beneath his large mous- 
tache, his brows met more closely in a gloomy frown, 
^nd he silently laid the paper of flowers which he had in 


22 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


his hand upon a table. Sievert nevertheless took two 
quick strides towards it. 

“ Give them to me,” he said, picking up the parcel and 
laying it in his basket on top of the bread, “ I will do 
your errand for you. What is done can’t be altered by 
me ; and those poor things shall not be plucked in vain. 
I will tell her why you cannot come to her ‘ tea-party ’ 
to-night. And now good night, and better health to you, 
Herr Student 1” 

With that he left the room, and went out again into 
the stormy night. 


CHAPTER II. 

He took the same path that the pastor’s wife had 
pursued towards the village of Neuenfeld, which lay 
about a rifle shot’s distance from the overseer’s cottage. 
But the path had in the mean time become far more dif- 
ficult to traverse; the wind had piled the snow up in 
drifts, more than a foot in depth, directly across the road, 
and the air was filled with such thick masses of driving 
snow that it was impossible to distinguish the trees on 
either side. 

The old soldier tramped on regularly, in genuine scorn 
of danger, — he felt content in the midst of the tempest. 
He pushed his cap off his forehead, behind which the 
evil old memories were burning that had just been re- 
called to his mind, and let it be sprinkled by the cold 
snow-flakes. The crunching of the snow beneath his 
feet filled him with an almost childish delight, — he strode 
forward firmly, and thought of his life’s road, along which 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


23 


he was not free to march as he could have wished to do ; 
but upon which, trammelled by old duties and obliga- 
tions, he must grow gray and bitter and misanthropic. 

Neuenfeld, one of those wretched villages of which 
only too many are to be found in the Thuringian forest, 
lay quietly before him ; it looked as if it had patiently 
lain itself down in the little valley to be coffined and 
buried in the snow up to its thatched roofs. By day the 
miserable cottages, scattered irregularly here and there, 
with their neglected gardens by their sides, looked any- 
thing but cheerful or inviting; but now, when night 
and the snow concealed their plastered walls and gray 
thatch, the dim light from the little windows fell cheerily 
and hospitably upon the tempest without. The glass 
panes needed neither shutters nor curtains, the well- 
heated stove, which fortunately was to be found in every 
cottage, even the poorest, took care of all that, and 
breathed upon them a thick, misty covering, so that no 
neighbour could spy upon his fellow, or see whether he 
merely dipped the potatoes that formed the evening 
meal in salt, or allowed himself the additional luxury of 
a piece of butter. 

Sievert quickened his pace. The lighted windows 
reminded him that at home the last candle-end was 
flickering in the candlestick. Seven had already struck, 
a good part of his journey still lay before him, and the 
inmates of the forest-house depended for their supper 
upon the bread in his basket. At the end of the village, 
he left the road which led out through the valley into 
the wide world, and turned into one of those neglected 
forest-paths, which are perfect marshes after any soften- 
ing ’•ain, and in frosty, dry weather, full of break-neck ruts 
and holes. 

The forest-house deserved its title. Built centuries 


24 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


before by a Herr von Zweiflingen exclusively for hunt* 
ing purposes, it seemed literally buried in the forest. Its 
owners had never occupied it. The house itself con- 
sisted only of a monstrous hall, — and the rooms in which 
the guests at the enormous hunts had passed the night 
were in the two tolerably large towers that flanked either 
side of the structure. After the death of Major von 
Zweiflingen his widow retired to a little town in Thu- 
ringia. Her only income arose from a small stipend that 
fell to her share, according to an ancient rule of the 
Zweiflingen family; she declined the pension which Baron 
Fleury procured for her from his Royal Highness, the 

Prince of A -. Her straitened circumstances forbade 

the keeping of any servants. Sievert provided for him- 
self, and he was quite able to do so, — he had sold the 
farm that he had inherited from his father, and the in- 
terest of the proceeds of the sale amply sufiBced for his 
moderate wants. Two years previously, Frau von 
Zweiflingen had been attacked by disease of the spine, — 
she believed her death to be near at hand, and was 
seized with a feverish desire to end her days upon the 
Zweiflingen estate. With infinite pains she was trans- 
ported to the forest-house, — the sole remnant of the former 
possessions of the family, — and, in this utter retirement, 
she was now awaiting her last moments on earth. 

Gradually the ground beneath SieverPs feet began to 
ascend. The old soldier waded knee-deep in the snow 
that was lying in the furrows, and battled bravely with 
the wind which whistled at will across the open clear- 
ing. How weird and wild the blast was I ’Tis true that 
the wind shrieks strange fantasies around an old castle, 
but its voice is no less mysterious when it rustles among 
the topmost boughs of the forest, making every shrivelled, 
curled leaf a tiny speaking-trumpet, forcing it to join 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


25 


in the long wail over the vanished glory of the woods, 
the dead promise of the spring and dream of summer, 
and of the old, old times when the tira-lira of the hunt- 
ing-horn, blown by noble squires, resounded through the 
leafy aisles, and the golden hair of some fair huntress 
shimmered among the woodland greenery. 

Besides all this, Sievert heard in the wild tumult 
raging above him, the savage voice of many a Herr 
von Zweiflingen, — here they had reigned in all the might 
of feudal despotism, and had often been pitilessly cruel 
and unjust to poor poachers upon their domain; and 
now the old soldier every day gathered dry branches 
from the land that belonged to others so that the last 
Frau von Zweiflingen might have warmth to keep her 
alive. Only a day or two before he had, with a crowd 
of little beggars from the village, gathered a basketful 
of the scarlet winterberries that carpeted the ground 
so gaily, to refresh the same dying Frau von Zwei- 
flingen. 

The old man whistled through his closed teeth as 
though suppressing a bitter laugh. One angry exclama- 
tion escaped his lips as he observed through the snow- 
flakes that were falling rather more slowly a feeble ray 
of light. 

“ She has forgotten again to hang up the curtain before 
the window, — and on such a night !” he muttered angrily. 
*‘IIow the wind will whistle through the room! And I 
suppose she has let the fire go out in the stove.” 

He ran on, and suddenly laughed aloud, — borne on 
the wind, he heard several full chords on the piano. 

“ Yes, yes ; she is at her old ravings again. I thought 
so,” he said, hurrying forward. All his reveries vanished 
in the annoyance that he experienced. What cared he 
for the wailing ghosts of dead von Zweiflingens now I 

3 


26 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


he heard onlj the crescendo of that wild melody, and 
saw only the light that, streaming from an uncurtained 
window of one of the towers, lay upon the snow outside, 
showing the shadow in flickering outlines of the grated 
window. 

The fa9ade of the forest-house retreated a few paces 
back of the two towers, which were connected by a bal- 
cony raised some steps from the ground, — which steps, 
leading directly up from the soil of the forest, and 
dividing the stone balustrade of the balcony in the 
middle, terminated in large folding-doors, which led 
directly into the spacious hall. As Sievert ascended these 
steps the light of his lantern fell upon two figures of 
stone as large as life, standing upon either side of the 
landing, — two graceful forms in the dress of pages. For 
centuries they had stood there, with their curled heads 
thrown back, and the bugles of stone at their lips, 
sounding the tira-lira out into the forest. What a motley 
crowd would have assembled if their bugle-call could 
have summoned from the sleep of death all those who, 
intoxicated by the grape and by the chase, had stood 
upon this terrace as owners of the broad domain that 
they surveyed, differing in costume, age, and aims, but 
all alike in one respect, — a determination to yield not 
one atom of their hereditary right to rule and oppress 
those beneath them, but to enlarge and increase that 
right whenever an opportunity offered for doing sol 

The noise of the opening door re-echoed through the 
house, and, as Sievert entered, the colossal dimensions oi 
the hall were revealed in what seemed fathomless depth 
before him. He first approached the stove and opened 
one of the doors, — the blackness of darkness showed 
within. 

I thought so ! ’tis a sin and a shame ! — not a spark of 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


2t 


fire I” he grumbled. He laid down his various packages, 
and, in a few minutes, a good fire was crackling in the 
stove. 

The wind howled down the chimney, and blew red 
tongues of flame out into the room. The light darted 
and flickered upon the opposite wall, playing upon full- 
length portraits, ranked side by side, in their mouldering 
frames. They were all male figures, in hunting costume, 
and for the most part painted in situations calculated to 
display most advantageously the courage and aristocratic 
peculiarities of the von Zweiflingens. Conflicts with 
wild boars and bears were favourite subjects. Above 
the pictures were ranged huge stags’ heads, with their 
antlered fronts, having beneath each a white tablet, upon 
which was recorded, in black letters, when and by whom 
the noble brute was slain, — some of them dating from so 
many years back that an antiquarian heart would have 
thrilled with delight. At one end there was a balcony 
for musicians, whence trumpets had once sounded for the 
entertainment of the merry huntsmen seated at the ban- 
quet, when the chase was over ; now from beneath it a 
gentle bleat was occasionally heard, — it had been con- 
verted into a stable for goats. 

Sievert placed a tripod upon the fire, with a vessel of 
fresh water, — the most primitive arrangement that could 
be devised, — and then put one of the candles, from the 
bundle that he had brought, in a tin candlestick. During 
his preparations a grim, stereotyped smile never for an 
instant left his face, — for the sound of the piano camr 
clear and full through the wall. The old soldier was evi 
dently no enthusiast for music, or he must have admired 
the wondrous execution, the brilliant emphasis of that 
touch upon the keys; those clear trills and roulades 
would have delighted the mpst fastidious public. But 


28 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


tlie discontented old critic had not applied the singular 
expression, “ ravings,” altogether inappropriately. That 
Tarantella was rendered in the quickest and wildest 
tempo, — the tones sparkled and glittered, ’tis true, but 
the sparks were cold; they did not kindle any warmth, 
and left the listener in doubt whether the warm blood of 
life were actually coursing through those rapid, automatic 
fingers. 

The old soldier took the candle, and opened the door 
leading into the room upon the ground-floor of the south- 
ern tower. How wide the difference between the two 
rooms separated by that door I On one side the waste, 
empty hall, with its re-echoing marble pavement, and 
without one article of furniture ; on the other, an apart- 
ment abounding in luxury. We must say abounding, 
for the room was rather small, and contained the entire 
furniture of a large apartment. It was the only relic 
that the widow had been able to retain of former splen- 
dour. This unexpected pomp dazzled one for a moment, 
but surprise soon yielded to a sensation of melancholy 
and profound sympathy. Those carved cabinets and 
tables, those tete-a-tetes and arm-chairs, covered with 
apricot-coloured damask, stood against walls hung with 
ancient ragged leather hangings, the gilt arabesques of 
which had faded to a dull brown, looking all the more 
dingy in contrast with the shining frames of the mirror, 
that reached from floor to ceiling, and of a large portrait 
in oil. Gay curtains hung before the windows, and the 
gigantic stove, coarse and rude in shape, projected far into 
the room, and destroyed every vestige of harmony in its 
arrangement. 

Sievert extinguished with his fingers the flickering, 
smoking flame of the little end of candle, and in its stead 
placed the fresh candle upon the table. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


29 


The woman, who was sitting cowering in an arm- 
chair, never noticed the change, for she was blind ; — “ the 
poor lady cried herself blind,’’ people said, and they were 
not far wrong. She added much to the painful impres- 
sion produced by the room ; she was most plainly dressed, 
— her dark cotton gown rudely spread itself over the satin 
cushions of the arm-chair. 

“Are you come at last, Sievert?” she asked, peevishly, 
in a weak, but sharp, high tone of voice. “ You stay 
forever when you go upon an errand. My daughter is 
practising, and cannot hear me. I have screamed myself 
hoarse. I am freezing. You never remembered to attend 
to the stove before you went, and Jutta forgot to hang 
something in front of the window ; you ought to have 
reminded her of it. And what mean candles you buy 
now I they make such a smoke and such a disgusting 
smell, — I would not have had such in the servants’ 
room.” 

The old servant replied not a word to these reproaches. 
His mistress could not afford wax or spermaceti candles, 
and still less the oil that was needed for the gorgeous 
astral lamp that stood upon the table. He quietly opened 
a cupboard, and took from it an old, faded, red silk table- 
cover, which he hung before the window nearest to the 
invalid. 

Frau von Zweiflingen rolled and unrolled one of her long 
cap-strings in her thin, yellow wax-like fingers, — there 
was great nervous excitability in all her movements. 

“You have brought in a horrid smell of smoke in 
your clothes, Sievert,” she began, again turning her head 
with its sightless eyes towards the window, where she 
heard Sievert at work. “ I suspect that you burn green 
wood, although I cannot imagine how it can be so. Of 
course you had our winter fuel carted in at the proper 

3 * 


30 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


time last summer, for you are a practical man. Is it not 
in a dry place 

A bitter smile hovered about Sievert’s lips, as he heard 
the word “ carted.” Yes, the fuel for winter had been 
“ carted ” in upon his own shoulders, and it was likely 
enough that there was many a green bough among it, 
which might now be hissing in the stove, and offending 
his mistress’ fastidious nose. Sievert had had charge of 
her finances since his return to her, and formerly had 
been able, with infinite pains and economy, to make both 
ends meet, and maintain a respectable appearance before 
the world ; but now her illness was very expensive. His 
mistress never thought of that, still less did she dream 
that the bread that she was to eat for supper, and the 
iliuch-abused tallow candle, were paid for out of Sie- 
vert’s pocket, for there was not another groschen in the 
house. 

In the mean time he assured her that the wood was 
istored under cover in the northern tower, and laid all 
the blame upon the wind, which blew the smoke out into 
the hall. Then he quietly took a napkin, two cups, and 
a tin teapot out of the cupboard, and arranged a tea-table 
in front of the sofa. 

At this moment the music of the piano in the next 
room was ended Tvith a resounding chord. Frau von 
Zweiflingen gave a sigh of relief, and pressed her hands 
for one moment upon her temples,— the noisy music 
must have been perfect torture to her shattered nerves. 

The door into the next room opened. If dusty cobwebs 
could have suddenly festooned and draped the deep 
window-recesses of the apartment, if the elegant furni- 
ture could have sunk into the ground, and have been re- 
placed by a distaff by the side of the old figure in the 
arm-chair, it would have completed a most exquisite 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


31 


picture of the doomed Princess Dornrdschen presenting 
herself before the old crone spinning in the tower. Close 
by the ugly monster of a stove, framed in the opening of 
the door, appeared a young girl. Those childlike hands, 
now wandering among the curls straying upon her neck, 
had just been gliding with such skill over the keys of the 
piano. The piece of music must have been an easy one 
to the young performer, for no flush of fatigue suffused 
her cheeks, which were rather pale, but fresh as a cherry- 
blossom. The face had nothing in common with the 
wasted profile that lay so wearily upon the silken cush- 
ion ; but the Greek loveliness of that exquisite outline 
was repeated again and again in the portraits in the hall, 
and the same black eyes, which were there glowing with 
wild delight in the chase, or looking down upon the 
world in cold aristocratic self-consciousness, were here 
beaming large and finely opened in the girlish counte- 
nance, To make the contrast still more striking between 
the mother and daughter, and to stamp the latter more 
decidedly as a genuine scion of the von Zweiflingens, 
who almost all were represented in green velvet, covered 
with gold embroidery, this youthful figure was rustling 
in a blue embroidered brocade, cut square in the neck, 
and trimmed with exquisite lace, yellow with age. 

“ Well, Sievert,.” she said, as she entered the room, 
“ can we have some hot water at last Her eyes fell 
upon the tea-table, — “What, only two cups!” she cried. 

Do you forget that we expect company ?” 

“ The company cannot come ; the Herr Student has 
been taken ill,” replied Sievert, curtly, holding the tea- 
pot towards the light, to be sure that its surface was 
thoroughly bright and shining. 

The young lady looked suddenly as if every hope of 
her future existence were shattered to the ground, — an 


32 


COUNTESS QISELA, 


expression of the bitterest disappointment appeared in 
her face. 

“ Oh how miserable she wailed. “ Shall I never 
have any pleasure? Is young Eckhardtill? What is 
the matter with him, I should like to know V* A mixture 
of irony and incredulity was audible in the clear child- 
like tones of her voice. 

“ The student caught cold upon his journey/’ replied 
Sievert dryly, stepping towards the door. 

“ I don’t care for that. I can’t see why the overseer 
should stay at home. Is he afraid of taking cold, too ?” 
asked the girl. 

“Don’t be so childish, Juttal” said Frau von Zwei- 
flingen fretfully. “ How can he leave his sick brother 
alone, whom he has not seen for two years, and who has 
just arrived beneath his roof?” 

“ Oh, mamma, how can you excuse him ?” cried Jutta, 
clasping her hands in displeased surprise. “Would it 
not have wounded you deeply if papa had neglected you 
for the sake of others, and ” 

“Hush, child I” Frau von Zweiflingen exclaimed, so 
angrily and harshly, that her daughter stopped in terror. 
The invalid leaned her head wearily against the back 
of her chair, and covered her sightless eyes with her 
hand. 

“ Don’t be angry with me, mamma,” the young girl 
began again after a pause ; “ but, indeed, I must persist 
in feeling as I do. Such neglect on Theobald’s part makes 
me very unhappy. I have a lofty ideal, — I know that 
all the women of the von Zweiflingen race have been 
adored. Only read the history of our house. See how 
gallant men devoted themselves to death for the ladies 
of their affections. What mattered parents or brothers 
or sisters to them, in comparison with the women whom 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


33 


they loved ? Yes, those were men of true nobility of 
soul.” 

“ You little fool !” exclaimed the invalid, angrily. “ Is 
this boundless folly the only result of my teachings ?” 
She paused, for Sievert entered the room again. He 
had a tumbler of clean water in one hand, and in the 
other the silver paper parcel, which he had brought from’ 
the overseer, and which he handed to Jutta. She opened 
it ; but the expression of her features never changed at 
sight of the fragrant messengers of affection, who had 
ventured their lovely heads abroad at this inhospitable 
season, that they might refresh poor human beings chilled 
by the want of light and warmth. It is charming to see 
a young maiden secretly touch with her lips flowers sent 
to her by her lover ; but this girl was evidently too 
deeply affronted. She never even bent her head to en- 
joy the delicious odour exhaling from the bouquet. She 
tossed the flowers about on the table, selecting from them 
only the daffodils. Sievert stood still, holding the glass 
of water towards her. She pushed it away with a gesture 
of refusal. 

“ They were not plucked for that,” she said impati- 
ently. “I cannot bear to see dirty water in tumblers.” 
She went to the mirror, and arranged the daffodils, like a 
diadem in her hair so gracefully, that it looked as though 
the bright flowers had fallen accidentally among her dark 
curls. Her unfortunate mother was doubly to be pitied 
at this moment, in that she could not see the wondrous 
loveliness of her child ; perhaps it would have obliterated 
the remembrance of the “boundless folly,” uttered a few 
moments before by those lips now wreathed in smiles of 
gratified vanity. She certainly looked anything but 
“ very unhappy.” 

The old servant never even glanced at the brilliant 
C 


34 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


figure before the mirror, but he smiled contemptuously as 
he left the room with the tumbler. Poets have frequently 
celebrated in song the blissful death of flowers in the 
bosom or hair of lovely maidens ; but the rough old sol- 
dier uttered a suppressed malediction upon himself for 
bringing the poor things so carefully through wind and 
storm only that they might “ perish so miserably.” In a 
few moments he brought in the boiling water, bread and 
butter, and pushed the invalid’s chair nearer to the table ; 
then he retired to his quiet room on the ground-floor of 
the northern tower, made a good fire in his stove, filled 
his pipe, and began to read — astronomy. 

Jutta turned back the fine lace cuffs from her wrists. 
She spread some slices of bread and butter, and made 
the tea. 

“ What can it be, my child,” said the blind woman, 
her head inclined in a listening attitude toward her 
daughter, “ that rustles, as you move, like stiff, heavy 
jsilk?” 

Her daughter started involuntarily ; for one instant 
her cheeks and neck were suffused by a burning blush, 
and she moved a step farther away from her mother’s 
chair. 

“ Have you put on your black silk apron ?” the blind 
woman asked further. 

“ Yes, mamma.” The answer sounded half smothered, 
but it was ready enough. 

“ ’Tis odd I I never heard it rustle so before. If you 
owned a silk dress I should believe that you were fool- 
ishly amusing yourself by playing the fine lady here in 
this old forest-house. What gown are you wearing ?” 

“My old brown woollen one, mamma.” 

The examination was at an end. Jutta gave a .sigh of 
relief. She rattled among the teacups more than was 


COUNTESS QISELA. 


35 


necessary, but otherwise she suddenly held herself as im- 
movably still as if she had been a figure of wax. 

The invalid ate scarcely anything. She crumbled up 
with her fingers a thin slice of the delicate bread that 
Sievert had brought from Castle Arnsberg, — but scarcely 
a mouthful passed her lips ; her disease was evidently 
near its last stage. 

“ You might read me something aloud, Jutta, if you 
have finished your supper,” she said. “ The wind howls 
too drearily.” 

“ Certainly, mamma : I will get Grillparzer’s Sappho. 
Theobald brought it to me yesterday.” 

The blind woman shuddered nervously. “ No, no,” 
she cried impatiently. “ Don’t you know who Sappho 
was ? • A miserable, betrayed woman. The storm of 
agony that fills that book is worse than the tempest out- 
side, which I want to forget.” 

Her daughter arose to get another book. In passing 
her mother’s chair her skirt brushed the right hand of the 
invalid, which hung down over her cushions; the hand 
grasped the folds of the dress, and clutched them convul- 
sively, while she passed her left hand inquiringly up and 
down the rich material in feverish haste. 

“ Jutta, are you crazy ?” she almost shrieked. 

The girl sank down on the floor beside the arm-chair. 
*'Ah, mamma, forgive me I” she whispered. Her lips 
were white with terror. 

“ You heartless, frivolous creature I” cried her mother, 
pushing away the hands that clasped her own. “ Did 
you feel no spark of shame in appropriating the only 
sacred relic that I possess ? My wedding-dress, that I 
have preserved like the apple of my eye, — all that is left 
of that happy, heavenly time, — the dress that you know 
is to be laid in the grave witt me when I am Released 


36 


DOUNTESS GISELA. 


from all suffering. You mock our miserably poverty- 
stricken estate by trailing it over the wretched floors of 
this forest-house I Can there be a more lamentable farce 
than this 

Jutta rose quickly and angrily. Every trace of the 
loveliness of the gentle Princess Dornroschen vanished 
from her countenance. With her back turned to her irri- 
tated mother she stood, armed in obstinacy and contra- 
diction from head to foot. With an insolent air, she 
riveted her scornful glance upon a female portrait that 
hung just over the sofa. It was the figure of a young 
girl with the head and face almost of a mulattress. That 
small, thin face with irregular features and complexion 
like bronze nevertheless attracted one irresistibly by 
the piquant, intelligent expression of these same features, 
and by the deep, half- veiled eyes, glowing with suppressed 
passion. The delicate, olive shoulders were clothed in 
silver gauze, beneath which glimmered heavy white satin, 
and a pomegranate-blossom was confined among the thick, 
dark braids of hair by a diamond brooch. 

Jutta^s gaze fell upon the superb dress in the picture. 

“ You behave as though I had committed a capital 
offence, mamma,” she said coldly. “ I have not appro- 
priated the^ress, — I have only borrowed it for a few 
hours. The few stitches that I have taken in it, to make 
it fit me, can be ripped out again in five minutes,— other- 
wise it is just as it was. Theobald was to present his 
brother to us this evening, — it is certainly natural that I 
should wish at least to make a respectable impression 
upon my new relative. My brown woollen dress is 
ridiculously old-fashioned, and the spots upon it can no 
longer be concealed. You never allow Theobald to pre- 
sent me with any article of dress. You have forgotten, 
mamma, that you were once young yourself, or rather 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


37 


you cannot enter into my feelings and trials, for your 
own youth was so different. When I look at your 
portrait there, and compare that white satin with my 
finest dress, my splendid brown woollen gown, I cannot 
help wondering why I should be excluded from the 
Paradise in which you could live and shine I” 

The blind woman groaned, and covered her face with 
her hands. 

“I too am young and of noble family I” the daughter 
mercilessly continued. “ I feel within myself the capacity 
to mingle with the foremost of my kind, and yet I am 
doomed to pass my life in some wretched dark corner of 
the world I’^ 

If it had been Frau von Zweiflingen’s intention to 
educate her daughter apart from all vanity and world- 
liness for an unpretending modest position in life, she 
should have taken into consideration one eloquent op- 
ponent of all her exertions — the mirror. Although the 
mean tallow candle gave forth but a feeble ray, illumina- 
ting in the twilight of the apartment only the white face 
of the young girl, the pale starry blossoms in her hair, 
and here and there the shimmer of the rich satin of her 
robe, the tall mirror reflected a figure which, in its proud 
bearing and the seductive charm of its faultless outlines, 
could not certainly be likened to a lonely modest wood 
anemone. 

Of all our family estate, there is not a single groschen 
left for me,” Jutta continued, whilst the blind woman 
sat silent and motionless, her face still buried in her 
hands. “You say that papa lost it all by misfortunes 
and false friends, — well, that cannot be helped now ; but 
I should have thought that you and papa might have 
taken measures to have provided for me in a manner be- 
fitting my rank. A few days ago, mamma, I read that 

4 


38 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


the daughters of impoverished noble families were mostly 
employed at court as ladies in waiting, and I wondered 
why you had denied me the only opening left for me to a 
brilliant future.” 

‘‘ Indeed ! This then is your genuine confession of faith, 
Jutta!” the blind woman said in a monotone, while she 
slowly dropped her hands into her lap. The passionate 
violence of her previous outbreak was suddenly subdued, 
crashed, as it were, by some unforeseen moral shock. 
“And I thought I could oppose education to blood I 
Every characteristic of our caste is here, — love of pleas- 
ure, arrogance, a desire to vie with the greatest, — and if 
one’s own means do not suffice to attain such ends, pride 
is screwed down so many degrees, and one is willing to 
associate with the menial herd for the sake of basking in 
the smile of royal favour. I would not have you in that 
sphere, which you call Paradise, — do you hear?” she 
continued, more angrily, lifting up her poor face, and 
resting her hands upon the arms of her chair. “ I would 
sooner wall you up here, with my own hands, in the old 
forest-house. Let this suffice you for the present. Here- 
after, when you are older, and have outgrown some of 
your childish nonsense, and when I am no more, Theo- 
bald shall tell you my reasons.” 

She leaned back, exhausted, and her eyelids closed 
over her eyes. 


COUNTESS OISE LA. 


39 


CHAPTER III. 

Silence reigned in the room. Jutta ventured no word 
in reply. In the look which she cast upon the invalid, 
there was, indeed, something like shyness and a sud- 
den terror at her own temerity. She walked to and 
fro several times, — her little feet glided as noiselessly 
over the worn floor as though they sunk into thick car- 
pets ; only the mysterious silk dress rustled as it brushed 
past the furniture. But without, the tempest raged fu- 
riously around the old towers. The few leaves left upon 
the moaning trees came rattling against the window- 
panes with the driving snow, and the shutters of the 
windows, high up in the roof of the tower, banged help- 
lessly backwards and forwards. 

Suddenly, in the midst of this universal uproar, a 
human voice was heard shouting loudly. 

The forest-house was not as entirely secluded in sum- 
mer as might have been imagined. The narrow road, 
over which Sievert had gone with such difficulty, led at 
about thirty paces distance past the northern side of the 
house and over the easy ascent and descent of the mount- 
ain, directly toward A , uniting at the mountain’s 

base with the highroad to the town. It thus short- 
ened the road between Neuenfeld and the town by at 
least half a mile. This fact, and the delicious coolness of 
the forest, caused the path to be tolerably frequented in 
warm weather. The villagers passed and repassed, and 
often stopped to talk with Sievert, or to undertake some 
little commission for him in the town. On very hot 
days, travellers in their carriages would forsake the 


40 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


dusty highroad for this secluded way, and, in the peace 
and green twilight of the forest, forget the uneven ground 
beneath their horses’ feet. The inhabitants of the forest- 
house were, it is true, reminded of this vein of human life 
only by the occasional sounds of human voices and laugh- 
ter, or by the loud cracking of whips, and in dry weather 
the creaking of wheels, while the passers-by were, for 
the most pj^rt, unconscious of the vicinity of the old 
hunting-lodge, which was entirely concealed behind the 
leafy grove of giant beeches that separated it from the 
road. But with the approach of winter aM sounds of hu- 
man life died away in the forest. It was left to the pos- 
session of the rooks, who had built their nests for centu- 
ries in the old towers and might well have hung up their 
genealogical tree by the side of the one in the huge hall ; 
for they had known how to have and to hold their forest 
privileges more securely than the von Zweiflingens with 
all their parchment deeds. The rooks circled about the 
old lodge, with flapping wings and hoarse caws, which 
were often, for weeks at a time, the only sign of life out- 
side that came to the lonely inhabitants of the forest- 
house. 

Thus the shout we have alluded to was a surprise in- 
deed to both the invalid and her daughter. The blind 
woman roused herself from her state of brooding apathy, 
and Jutta hastily opened one of the windows. The wind 
that rushed in bore on its wings the same shout, more 
loudly repeated ; a man’s voice cried “Halloo I” distinctly 
from the northern side of the house. Whoever it was 
had evidently seen the light in Sievert’s window. Sie- 
vert’s reply immediately followed, and after the exchange 
of a few questions and answers, the old soldier emerged 
from his room, and went to open the door of the hall. 

Jutta took the candle and went out into the hall just 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


41 


at the moment when Sievert had opened the huge folding- 
doors, and, standing upon the balcony outside, was hold- 
ing his lantern out into the impenetrable darkness be- 
yond. 

Hasty footsteps were heard crossing the small clearing 
before the house. They halted at the bottom of the steps, 
up which two little feet tripped lightly. 

“ Both my coachmen were taken seriously ill,” said a 
deep voice outside, — a voice of most agreeable quality, 
although it was slightly tremulous with irritation, and 
also, as it seemed, with physical exertion, — “ and I was 
forced to drive with a postillion, and because the fellow 
had often made use of the forest-road in summer, he was 
so stupid as to attempt it on this terrible night in this 
pitchy darkness The wind has repeatedly blown out 
our lights, and my carriage is sticking fast. Is there not 
some one here who can stay with the horses while the 
postillion gets a relay, and, in the mean time, can we not 
find shelter here ?” 

Jutta stepped forward toward the threshold of the 
door. She held her hand before the flame of her candle, 
so that the light was thrown full upon her face and the 
upper part of her figure. Standing there, her flower- 
crowned head, with its abundant curls, bent forward in 
smiling eagerness, while the light from the stove behind 
her illuminated dreamily the portraits and stags’ heads 
upon the wall, lending an air of mystery to the whole, 
she must have suggested to any one standing outside in 
the night and tempest, one of those wondrous apparitions 
which old legends say haunt enchanted castles. 

As Jutta advanced, she saw before her, upon the 
threshold, a little girl, about six years old, who was re- 
garding her with great surprise; she was so enveloped 
m her winter wrappings, which were of most costly mar 

4 * 


42 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


terial, that nothing was visible except a little nose and a 
pair of large, wide-open eyes. The child carried in her 
arms a rather large bundle, which she had carefully cov- 
ered up with her cloak. 

And now a man came forth from the darkness, and be- 
neath the dark fur trimming of his cap was visible a very 
pale but decidedly distinguished countenance. The haste 
with which he suddenly ascended the steps might possi- 
bly arise from the momentary sensation of surprise 
<vhich he experienced ; nevertheless, he confronted Jutta 
with an air of the most perfect self-possession. He 
pushed the child into the hall, and bowed slightly to the 
foung girl with the easy grace of a finished man of the 
world. 

“A lady is awaiting my return outside in the carriage, 
aaturally enough in great anxiety and alarm,” he said, 
with a scarcely perceptible smile, which had, however, a 
peculiar charm when accompanied by the low, well-bred 
tones of his voice. “ Pray have the kindness to take 
this child under your protection until I can return and 
formally introduce myself ” 

For answer, Jutta gracefully threw her arm around 
the little girl, and took her into the dwelling-room, while 
the stranger, accompanied by Sievert, betook himself to 
the unfortunate carriage. 

“Mamma, I bring you a guest, — a dear little girl,” 
Jutta cried gleefully, as she entered the room. All traces 
of the former painful scene seemed entirely obliterated 
from her mind. In a few words she related the occur- 
rence in the forest. 

“ Let us have some hot tea,” said Frau von Zweiflin- 
gen, sitting upright. Her emaciated hands smoothed 
down the folds 'of her coarse dress, and were passed over 
her hair and her cap, to be sure that all was in order. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


43 


Spite of her separation from life and the world, her 
memory of conventional decorum was vivid, and at times 
showed strongly. As she sat there, her weak back pain- 
fully erect, and her white hands carelessly but not un- 
gracefully crossed in her lap, no trace could be discovered, 
’tis true, of the portrait above her head, but it was plain 
that that feeble figure must once have been quite at home 
in brilliant saloons. 

“ Come here and shake hands with me, my child !’’ she 
said, with a kindly expression, leaning forward towards 
where the little stranger was standing. 

“ In one instant, dear madame I’’ replied the child, who 
had hitherto regarded the feeble old figure with a certain 
air of shyness, — “ I must put puss down first.” 

She opened her little cloak, and the snow-white head 
of an Angora cat appeared. The animal was enveloped 
to the ears in a red silk wadded covering and was appar- 
ently struggling for freedom. Jutta helped to remove the 
soft wrappings, and puss was carefully placed upon the 
floor. It stretched its limbs, which had suffered from 
the excessive care lavished upon it, humped up its back, 
and gave utterance to a mournful me-ow ! 

“ Fie for shame ! don’t be a beggar, puss,” the little 
girl said reproachfully. But spite of this reproof to her 
favourite, she cast a longing glance at the pitcher of milk 
upon the table. 

‘‘Aha, puss loves milk!” laughed Jutta. “Well, she 
shall have some after we have taken off our hood and 
cloak.” 

She began to take off the child’s wraps; but the little 
girl recoiled from her, and pushed away her hand. “I 
will do it myself,” she said, in a tone of great decision. 
“ I cannot bear to have Lena do it, — she treats me as if I 
were a doll.” 


ii 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Then she took off her cloak and hood, and gave them 
to Jutta, who passed her hand with satisfaction, and yet 
with a kind of respectful timidity, over the rich fur trim- 
ming and the costly velvet of the cloak. The little girl 
must be the child of people of rank. She was a strange 
little creature. Quite tall for her age; but narrow- 
shouldered, and thin almost to emaciation, her slender 
little body looked as if it must sink under the weight of 
her heavy winter dress. Her thick, light — yes, almost 
colourless — hair was cropped close like a boy^s, and 
brushed smoothly back from her temples, behind her ears. 
This homely, unbecoming fashion of dressing her hair 
gave prominence to the sharp, thin features in the small 
face, and the child was, at the first glance, positively 
ugly. But who would not, when looking into her large, 
deep, innocent eyes, forget the meagre outlines of youth 
in face and figure ? And they were truly beautiful dark- 
brown eyes that were gazing thoughtfully at the hag- 
gard face of the blind woman, while the soft little hand 
gently touched the withered fingers. 

^‘Ah, here you are, little one!” said Frau von Zwei- 
flingen, taking the small hand in her own, and drawing 
the child towards her. “And so you love puss very 
dearly?” 

“ Oh, yes, very dearly!” said the child. “My grand- 
mamma gave her to me, and so I love her far better than 
what papa gives me. He only brings me dolls, and I 
can’t bear dolls.” 

“ What, you don’t like a pretty doll?” 

“No, not at all, — their eyes stare so, and I grow so 
tired of forever dressing and undressing them. I don’t 
want to be like Lena, who is always teasing me with 
new clothes. I know very well that Lena is very fond 
of dress.” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


45 


Frau von Zweiflingen, with a bitter smile, turned her 
head in the direction whence she heard the rustle of 
Jutta’s silk dress, and opened her eyes wide, as though 
determined to see the face of her daughter, who blushed 
beneath her mother’s sightless gaze. 

“Well, then, puss must suit you exactly,” the blind 
woman continued, after a pause. “ She never changes 
her dress.” 

The child smiled, and looked for one moment inde- 
scribably attractive ; the thin cheeks grew round, and there 
was great loveliness in the little mouth. 

“ Oh, I delight in her because she is so sensible,” she 
said. “ I tell her all the lovely stories I can think of, 
and she lies on her cushion at my feet blinking her eyes 
and purring as loud as she can, — she always does that 
when she is pleased. Papa laughs at me, — but it is per- 
fectly true that puss knows my name.” 

“ Oh, what a wonderful puss I And what is your 
name, little one ?” 

“ Gisela ; just like my dead grandmamma.” 

A sudden shudder convulsed the limbs of the blind 
woman. 

“Your dead grandmamma ?” she repeated, leaning for- 
ward and listening with painfully eager attention. “ Who 
was your grandmother ?” 

“Countess Yoldern,” answered the child, almost with 
solemnity. She had evidently never heard the name ut- 
tered except with the deepest respect. 

Frau von Zweiflingen instantly threw the little hand, 
which she had hitherto held tenderly in her own, from 
her as if it had been some poisonous reptile. 

“The Countess Yoldern I” she shrieked. “Ha! ha! 
the Countess Ydldern’s daughter beneath my roof! Is 
the spirit-lamp beneath the tea-kettle lighted, Jutta?” 


46 


COUNTESS CIS EL A. 


“ Yes, mamma,” answered her daugJbtcr, actually ter- 
rified. There was something like insanity in the voice 
and gestures of the blind woman. 

“ Then put it out,” she harshly ordered. 

But, mamma, ” 

“ Put it out, I tell you !” was repeated almost with 
savage violence. 

Jutta obeyed. “It is extinguished,” she said in a low 
voice. 

“ Now take away the bread and salt.” 

This time the girl obeyed without further remonstrance. 

Little Gisela had at first retreated shyly to a corner, 
but the astonished expression of her face soon gave place 
to indignant defiance. She had done no wrong, and yet 
she was punished. In her childish innocence she did 
not, it is true, suspect in the commands of the blind 
woman a formal declaration of war ; she only felt that 
she had been treated with indignity for the first time in 
her short life. 

“You must wait, puss, until we get to Arnsberg,” she 
said, taking away the saucer of milk which Jutta had 
placed on the floor for the cat. Then she picked up her 
cloak and hood and put them on. She was just wrap- 
ping up the cat when Jutta re-entered the room. 

“ I had rather go out and ask papa to let me stay in 
the carriage with Frau Herbeck,” the child said to her, 
casting a defiant glance towards the blind woman, who, 
however, had suddenly ceased to notice what was going 
on in the room. More rigid than before in her bearing 
she sat as if stiffened to marble, her head turned listen- 
ing towards the door that led into the hall. But the in- 
tensity of expression in her countenance contradicted the 
immobility of her figure. Perhaps the man who was 
now traversing the hall with so firm a tread, and speak- 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


4T 


fug to Sievert in so commanding a tone, would have for- 
borne to enter the door of this room if he could have 
seen that woman’s face, so full of the burning hatred and 
thirst for revenge that were just about to break forth in 
words. 

The door opened. First there appeared upon the 
threshold a lady, whose round, handsome face still showed 
traces of consternation, — for it was deadly pale, — and 
whose disordered dress indicated that her walk through 
the thicket had not been without unpleasant results ; yet 
she bowed gracefully, with an amiable smile and the per- 
fect self-assurance of a woman of the world. 

Jutta returned her salutation with an anxious glance 
towards the dark, silent figure in the arm-chair. With- 
out, the snow was driving furiously, but the atmosphere 
within these four walls suddenly seemed to the young 
girl as sultry as that which so often heralds a thunder- 
storm. Through the open door she could see the stranger 
gentleman taking off his overcoat and giving it to Sie- 
vert, who stood near him with a lantern ; the old soldier’s 
mien had never before been so hostile and angry. In 
spite of her anxiety she was greatly irritated ; what right 
had the old Servant, in his menial position, to show such 
discourtesy in his bearing towards that commanding, 
distinguished figure beside him? 

The gentleman stood now upon the threshold. He 
took little Gisela’s hand as the child ran towards him, 
and, without noticing that an earnest request was hover- 
ing upon her lips, entered the room, and was about to 
begin his promised introduction of himself by a most 
graceful gesture when the blind woman suddenly, by a 
violent effort, half rose from her chair, and extended her 
hand towards him with a repellant gesture. There was 
something unearthly in that female figure so frightfully 


48 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


ravaged by disease, to which, however, unbounded pas- 
sion lent, for the moment, the semblance of unimpaired 
strength. 

“Not a step farther, Baron Fleuryl” she commanded. 
“ Do you know whose threshold you have passed — and 
must I actually tell you that there is no shelter for you 
beneath this roof?’’ 

What power of modulation there was in that harsh 
voice I The unutterable contempt that it conveyed seemed 
absolutely annihilating. The man whom she addressed 
stood rooted to' the spot for one moment, evidently im- 
pressed by her look and manner ; but then he dropped 
the hand of the child, and walked with a decided step 
directly towards the invalid. She was incapable of sus- 
taining her erect position any longer, and sunk back ex- 
hausted, but her features retained the look of energetic 
decision, and her hand still pointed commandingly to- 
wards the door. 

“ Go, go I’’ she cried with violence. “ One step beyond 
my door outside and you stand upon your own estate. 
The foresters upon the domain of Baron Fleury would 
count it an unpardonable transgression of the law if I 
should venture to dispose of a straw outside of the walls 
of this old house, but the roof over my head is still my 
own, and from beneath it I still, thank Heaven ! have the 
right to bid you go !” 

Baron Fleury turned quietly to the lady who was with 
him, and who stood near the door speechless with sur- 
prise. 

“ Take Gisela away, Frau von Herbeck,’^ he said with 
perfect composure. His entire self-possession was most 
striking in contrast with the passion displayed by the 
blind woman. The very shape of the man’s head and 
features was calculated to express high-bred repose. His 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


49 


drooping eyelids veiled his glance, and made it unfathom- 
able, and his slightly aquiline nose looked as if chiselled 
on the face, which, although not full, never revealed the 
play of a single muscle. 

Frau von Herbeck hastily left the apartment. From 
the open door of Sievert’s room a broad ray of light 
fell upon the marble pavement of the hall ; Baron Fleury 
saw, with great satisfaction, that the lady took the child 
into the comfortable little room and closed the door be- 
hind her. 

“ Who cared for me when I was thrust out into night 
and misery?” the invalid continued, with a wild wail, 
when the sound of retreating footsteps could no longer 
be heard. “ Do you know what it is, Baron Fleury, to 
live half your life with lips tightly locked and a calm 
countenance while your burning, proud heart dies a niar- 
tyr’s death of torture ? Do you know what it is to have 
some insolent hand steal from you a jewel around which 
every fibre of your being is lovingly entwined, and beloved 
eyes turn coldly away from you, to rest with longing fond- 
ness upon a hated face ? Do you know what it is to see 
a man’s honour degraded, little by little ; to know him a 
mere tool in the hands of unprincipled men, while you are 
rewarded by him with abuse for every attempt to rescue 
him from infamy? But all such questions are vain; 
what does Baron Fleury know of gonuiue virtue and self- 
sacrifice I” And with unutterable bitterness she turned her 
face away from the man who stood motionless beside her. 
He had folded his arms upon his chest, and was looking 
calmly down upon her in all the consciousness of supe- 
rior strength. There was not the slightest change in a 
feature of his face; his eyelids drooped low over his 
eyes, so that the black lashes seemed to cast a shadow 
upon the pale cheeks. Such a brow as that which 
D 5 


50 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


gleamed beneath those dark curls must belopg either 
to a guiltless conscience or to deepest-dyed villainy. 

“Your Excellency must, however, confess to the knowl- 
edge of one experience,’^ Frau von Zweiflingen proceeded, 
in a louder voice and with bitter irony. “Do you know 
what it is to live on the very pinnacle of social distiiiv.*- 
lion, surrounded on all sides by wealth and splendour, 
and suddenly to fall into a deep abyss of want ? Yes, 
yes ; the Fleurys could tell a long tale upon this theme. 
Ha, ha ! France has always declared that Germany must 
dance to its music, and without doubt that was the reason 
why the refugee French peer — your noble father — took 
to his fiddle and to teaching our German youth dancing 
that he might — earn his living !” 

That shot told ; there was one exposed spot in the 
mail-clad breast of her foe. Two deep wrinkles appeared 
in the marble smoothness of his brow ; his arms were 
suddenly unfolded, and his right hand raised warningly 
above the head of the blind woman; but just at this mo- 
ment two warm, white hands grasped his left entreat- 
ingly. 

Jutta had, until now, shrank away horror-stricken into 
the dark recess of a window. That man, then, with the 
proud, imperial bearing, was the dreaded and omnipotent 
Prime Minister of the country. She had never seen him 
. — ^but she knew that a stroke of his pen, a word from his 
lips, sufficed to decide the weal or woe of thousands as 
well as of any one man. He controlled the reins of gov- 
ernment, in defiance of all constitutional privileges, with 
ihe unrestrained license of despotism ; and this man the 
old, blind invalid was daring to turn from her door, 
heaping him with scorn and reproach, which he endured 
with quiet dignity as long as she referred only to himself 
personally. The girl’s whole nature rebelled against her 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


5i 

mother; it never occurred to her to ask how fur her 
mother was justified in her passionate emotion ; for with 
certain natures might is always right ; with them every 
one who resists authority ba^cked by power is in the 
wrong. How numerous such natures are in the world 
the history of the patient endurance of nations under 
tyrannical governments will show. 

This conviction had complete possession of the mind of 
the young girl, as she crept from her corner and grasped 
the hand of the man who had just been so heaped with 
scorn. What a seductive charm enveloped her youthful 
figure as she stood there, — her ideally lovely head slightly 
thrown back, looking up into his face with such imploring 
eyes ! At her touch the Minister’s right hand dropped at 
his side, he turned his head, and from beneath their long, 
sleepy lids his eyes shot forth — such a glance I It fell 
like fiery rain into her soul. Riveting those burning 
eyes, which were unveiled for an instant, with an enig- 
matical expression upon the blushing, girlish face, Baron 
Floury smiled, and slowly raised the little, white, trem- 
bling hand to his lips. 

And her blind mother sat by, awaiting in breathless- 
eagerness a biting reply, a final outbreak of irritation, 
which should prove to her satisfaction that she had 
wounded her deadly foe, — but in vain ; no word came, and 
there he stood beside her ; she could hear him stir, she 
had even just felt, with aversion, his breath upon her 
brow; this patient, contemptuous silence irritated her 
unspeakably. 

Yes, yes, the Fleurys know all about chance and 
change 1” she began again in a moment, with a bitter 
laugh. “ For many generations they ranked with those 
who, by means of aristocratic blows and scourgings, drove 
the French people to revolution ; and then, after all their 


52 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


cruelty and invincible arrogance, came the coward flight 
across the Rhine. And the last remnant of their estates 
with all the eloquence learned at Versailles was brought 
into play to hound on a foreign nation to make war upon 
their own people. Stranger hands must overthrow and 
bind the victim that it might lie quietly at the feet of 
its masters. Shame upon such noble patriots!” 

“You wander from the point, madame!” the Min- 
ister coldly and calmly interrupted the speaker. “ I 
have accorded you time and leisure to explain a per- 
sonal hatred that you appear to entertain for me, but 
instead of that you attempt a petty revenge by traducing 
my innocent family. Will you have the courtesy to 
explain what justifies you in using such language to 
me ?” 

“ Great God, hear him ask!” shrieked the blind woman. 
“As if it had not been his dastardly hand that thrust that 
wretched man into such depths of degradation.” She tried 
to control herself. Drawing her breath in long gasps, and 
once more holding her feeble frame erect, while she waved 
ner right hand slowly up and down with what was almost 
solemnity, she continued, — 

“ Deny that the property of the von Zweiflingens all 
melted away upon the green table at which his Excel- 
lency, the present Minister, formerly presided ! Deny that 
Baron Fleury’s servant secretly delivered notes from the 
Countess Voldern to the wretched victim of her fascina- 
tion when, touched by the earnest prayers and terrible 
suffering of his unhappy wife, he made a despairing effort 
to forsake his faithless and ruinous course ! Deny that 
he rushed into the arms of death because his honour was 
gone — and too late he recognized his betrayer! Deny 
all this — you are quite capable of it— and a multitude of 
cowardly souls will give due credence to the omnipotent 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


53 


Minister; but I — I will arraign you with my latest 
breath, and — there is a God above us!’’ 

The Minister’s pale cheeks grew perhaps a shade paler; 
but that was the only sign of inward emotion. His eye- 
lids had drooped again over his eyes, making them dull 
and impenetrable; his slender, delicately-shaped hand 
gently caressed his glossy black beard, and he seemed 
rather to be listening to the tiresome statement of some 
petitioner than to such terrible accusations. 

“You are ill, madame,” he said, as softly as though 
he were speaking to a child, when she ceased, ex- 
hausted ; “ and that perfectly excuses your rancour in 
my eyes. I shall try to forget it. Nothing would be 
easier for me than to refute your charges on the spot — 
imputing much that may have occurred to its true cause, 
boundless and causeless feminine jealousy.” As he ut- 
tered these last words with intense emphasis, his sonorous 
voice grew sharp and keen as a dagger. “ But nothing 
would induce me, in the presence of this young lady, to 
refer to events, the knowledge of which would sully her 
childlike unconsciousness.” 

The blind woman laughed a laugh of hitter scorn. 

“ Oh, what forbearance !” she cried. “ Let me con- 
gratulate you upon your brilliant diplomacy. But I pray 
you speak without reserve — whatever you say must throw 
hideous light upon that sphere which this young lady 
here is accustomed in her childish dreams to call Para- 
dise ! — Paradise I this thin crust above such bottom- 
less abysses. WTth the last remnant of strength that 
was left me I snatched this child from the sphere to 
which she belongs by birth, in faithful care for her wel- 
fare and also for my revenge. The last von Zweiflingen 
mingles with the common herd — she will be taken care 
of; but the world will say, ‘ See, what a miserable 

5 * 


54 


aOUNTESS GISELA. 


phantom is the nimbus of an ancient name when wealth 
is wanting!’ — a welcome illustration for modern radical- 
ism that is laying the axe at the root of the aristoc- 
racy.” 

She sunk back utterly exhausted. 

“And now, go!” she cried in a failing voice, “it would 
be a fit and bitter ending of my crushed existence if I 
were condemned — to die in your presence !” 

The Minister lingered for one moment ; but something 
appeared in the ashen features of the invalid — that even 
when it is not understood always inspires an involuntary 
awe in the by-standers — the seal of death ! Whilst Jutta, 
apprehending one of her mother’s customary attacks of 
spasms, was pouring some medicine into a teaspoon with 
a trembling hand, Baron Fleury stepped noiselessly to- 
wards the door. On the threshold he stood still, and 
turned his head towards the young girl, — their eyes met 
once more. Jutta, shuddering, let the spoon fall, and 
the dark liquid dripped upon the white tablecloth. The 
man in the doorway smiled and disappeared. Without, 
upon the marble floor of the hall, his footsteps, formerly 
so firm and decided, glided almost noiselessly. He did 
not go to the hall-door whence he had been so pitilessly 
turned away by the mistress of the forest-house. The 
tempest howled more fiercely than ever, and rattled at 
the oaken bolts of the door as if demanding a victim ij 
be hurled and crushed against the gigantic trunks of the 
forest-trees. The Minister waited in Sievert’s warm 
room until the old soldier, who had been staying with 
the horses, returned. Some lackeys from Arnsberg came 
with him, they carried large lanterns with which to 
illuminate the narrow, dangerous forest-path. The car- 
riage had already been extricated by means of fresh 
ho"ses ; and five minutes later the inhospitable dwelling 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


55 


lay lonely and deserted in the midst of the wild tumult 
in the forest. 

Just before midnight two messengers passed through 
the wood, now hushed to silence but lying deep in snow, 
to Greinsfeld, to bring the doctor residing there — two 
messengers, a workman from the foundry and Sievert. 
In the overseer’s cottage young Berthold Eckhardt was 
raving in delirium — with curses he was ceaselessly 
thrusting from him the white hands of the Countess 
Ydldern, imploringly clasped, as she lay upon the ground 
before him, with her long, yellow hair all trailing, and 
the thin rivulet of blood trickling down from her brow 
upon her snowy neck and bosom. But in the forest- 
house there lay one for whom the messenger was dis- 
patched in vain. She was passing away almost without 
a struggle. Her cold hands lay immovable in her lap — 
her breath came at longer and longer intervals from her 
lips, and her half-closed eyelids quivered and twitched 
with the slight, final spasm, while around her mouth 
hovered that calm smile which we so gladly interpret as 
a visible sign of inward peace and content. Where was 
the soul that a few hours before had shown all its 
wounds, and, in a climax of passion, had gleamed in 
those eyes whose light was all but extinguished ? 

Jutta lay upon the ground, with her forehead resting 
upon the knees of the dying woman. The white daf- 
fodils still lay among her dark curls, their tender leaves 
already shrunk and faded, and the gorgeous blue silk 
robe trailed over the rough boards, reminding her, as it 
rustled, of the last pain which the daughter had given 
the maternal heart, — a pain for which that daughter 
could never now ask forgiveness. 


66 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


CHAPTER lY. 

A FEW days had elapsed since the mortal remains of 
Frau von Zweiflingen had been consigned to the earth 
in the little church-yard of Neuenfeld with its ruinous 
plastered wall. There was not to be found in this spot 
a single one of those gray, mossy emblems, which, in 
aristocratic burial-places, tell with tongues of stone of 
ancient prerogatives and insuperable barriers between 
the various ranks of mankind. Yet these emblems fail 
to inspire us, as they fain would, even in the presence of 
death and decay, with reverence for frail humanity, — they 
rather remind us of the disembodied soul, standing naked 
before the judgment-seat of God, stripped of all those vain 
earthly honours, which have weighed so heavily with 
his fellow-men. 

Now, indeed, the snow covered the few mounds in the 
unpretending village church-yard like a pall, its white 
uniformity unbroken, except here and there by some 
rude black memorial cross, half shattered by the wind, 
and serving for a perch for a solitary crow; but in sum- 
mer, forest shadows and forest fragrance came wafted 
across the low wall which, ascending the mountain, 
ceased only within the shade of the beeches bordering 
that same mysterious forest. Then warm life flooded and 
throbbed in the green of the hazel thicket growing so 
luxuriantly in the corners of the wall, in the veins of the 
wrens and red-breasts that built their nests undisturbed 
there, in the trailing brambles stretching their long 
arms eagerly across the breaches in the crumbling wall, 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


51 


laying a wealth of blackberries upon the neglected sward 
inside, while the sunbeams glided hither and thither, 
wooing back to life many a lovely buried flower from its 
deathlike sleep, — and then the majestic truth of the res- 
urrection comes home to the heart, bringing far deeper 
conviction here than in mausoleums where decay and 
corruption reign. 

Perhaps this thought, in addition to her burning hatred 
of her class, had induced Frau von Zweiflingen to select 
this spot for her last resting-place. 

On the same day that had seen the dark earth receive 
into its bosom the wearied heart of the blind woman, 
Jutta had left the forest-house upon the arm of the over- 
seer, and had taken up her abode with the pastor’s wife 
at Neuenfeld. She was to remain there until the time 
when she could remove thence as the wife of the overseer. 
Although the young man was oppressed by the dreary 
present, and his brother, whom he nursed night and day, 
was almost hapelessly ill of nervous fever, and the blind 
woman, whom he had loved as a mother, was no more ; 
yet during this walk through the forest, all grief, all sor- 
row had been overpowered in his mind by a sensation of 
unspeakable happiness. The pale maiden by his side, 
the idol of his affections, had now no earthly prop in the 
wide world but himself; and although she walked along 
silently, and in such abstracted and pensive mood as he 
had never known in her before, and her hand, usually so 
restless, now lay upon his arm, motionless, as if made of 
marble, yet all that was strange and unaccustomed in 
her manner and bearing was of course owing to what 
encircled her with a fresh halo in his eyes, her sorrow 
for her dead mother. He knew that she would at last 
weep out her now tearless grief upon his breast, and 
that her youthful soul would gradually recover the 


58 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


freshness and joyous elasticity which so attracted him, — ■ 
the earnest, serious man. How he would protect and 
cherish her! His happiness was as unalterable a fact as 
the light of the sun. Had not Jutta assured him, times 
without number, that her love for him was ‘eternal,’ and 
that she longed like a child for the time when she might 
go to him as his little wife? 

The pastor’s wife had made ready for the Fraulein the 
only inhabitable room in the upper story of the old ruin- 
ous parsonage. Some furniture and the piano had been 
removed hither from the forest-house, for at the pastor’s 
there was not one superfluous piece of furniture, — they 
were poor there as only the modest pastor of a wretched 
Thuringian village, who, as a poor curate, has married 
a still poorer maiden in early youth, can be. The costly 
chairs and tables from the gloomy room in the tower 
seemed actually to have fallen into disgrace, for they stood 
now against whitewashed walls, only these walls were 
wreathed all over by tender shoots of ivy, and every ray 
of the wintry sun that penetrated the small windows 
threw its golden gleam upon these graceful hangings 
and the decaying boards of the floor. ’Tis true, the 
magnificent landscape without was now veiled in ice 
and snow ; but from these same windows at this time 
much could be seen that was screened in summer by 
luxuriant foliage. The village of Neuenfeld, and in 
especial the little upper room in the parsonage, were wit- 
nesses every evening of a most unaccustomed spectacle. 

As soon as the sun had set, lights began to twinkle in 
the distant Castle of Arnsberg, now inhabited for the first 
time for years, and as the night grew darker the more 
brilliantly shone the rows of windows. Large globe 
lights, suspended from the ceiling, burned in the long cor- 
ridors ; every dark corner was illuminated more brightly 


OUNTESS GISELA. 


59 


than it had ever been in Prince Henry’s lifetime. From 
the garret to the spacious, echoing vestibule the huge old 
pile was filled with warmth, and upon stairs and pas- 
sages were laid soft, thick carpets. The hot-houses had 
been emptied of their contents, in order that the tall 
orange-trees, myrtles, and oleanders, once the objects of 
Prince Henry’s almost tender care, might now stand, like 
obsequious lackeys, on the landings of the staircases and 
in the antechambers, to waken sweet dreams of summer 
sunshine and beauty — and all for the sake of a child, a 
delicate, spoiled, little girl. 

Baron Fleury cherished little Gisela like the apple of 
his eye. It almost seemed as if his every thought and 
feeling centred around this little creature and her welfare. 
The world found this care all the more touching, as Gi- 
sela was not his own child. As we know, the Countess 
Ydldern had had an only daughter, married first to Count 
Sturm. It was said that this union, which had been one 
contracted from passionate mutual affection, and entirely 
without the consent, even against the wishes of the 
Countess Ydldern, had been unhappy, and that the young 
Countess had had no reason to regret the fall from his 
horse that had terminated her husband’s life after ten 
years of marriage. She had borne him three children, 
of whom only the youngest, little Gisela, still survived. 
Baron Fleury became Prime Minister of the royal court 

at A about the time of the death of Count Sturm. 

It had been whispered abroad that his Excellency had 
cherished a secret affection for the beautiful Countess 
even during her husband’s lifetime, and this suspicion 
was confirmed when the Baron sued for and obtained the 
hand of the young widow at the expiration of her year 
of mourning. A malicious public, ’tis true, whispered fai-- 
ther that he owed his success in bis wooing less to his 


60 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


own personal attractions than to his influence with royalty, 
by means of which the Countess Yoldern had again pro- 
cured an entree to the court, from which she had long 
been banished, first as the friend of Prince Henry, and 
last as the sole heir to his lands and estates, which should 
of right have fallen to the reigning Prince. However 
that might be, she attained her old position at court by 
the marriage of her daughter with the Prime Minister, 
and the time when she made her reappearance at A—: — 
was still esteemed a golden time in court annals. 

She instituted a succession of gayeties before unheard 
of, and was universally popular on account of her still 
bewitching beauty, and her wealth, which she scattered 
abroad with a lavish hand, that the unsteady ground be- 
neath her feet might grow firm. But she did not long 
enjoy her triumph. The Baroness Fleury died in her 
confinement, after giving birth to a still-born boy, and 
three years later the Countess Yoldern also died, ‘as 
quietly and happily as a saint,’ said the people, and old 
Sievert, too. She was ill only during two days, and, 
as a faithful Catholic, received extreme unction in due 
form, falling asleep in death with a childlike smile of in- 
nocence upon her lips, so that the people came from far 
and near to see the lovely, waxen image in the coffin of 
the lady who had sinned so deeply, and never suffered 
The orphaned Gisela, now five years old, remained with 
her stepfather, and was the sole heiress of her grandmo- 
ther’s estates and property, with the exception of Castle 
Arnsberg, which had passed out of the hands of the 
Countess Yoldern a long time before. To the great sur- 
prise of all the world, she had, a few months after her 
accession to Prince Henry’s estates, sold Arnsberg, with 
the fields and forest thereto pertaining, to Baron Fleury, 
then not related to her in any way, for the sum of thirty 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


61 


thousand thalers, under the really ridiculous pretext that 
the place where her friend the Prince had died was pro- 
ductive of too many painful associations. 

Thus the little Countess, when flying from the typhus 
fever, came to Arnsberg, not as its mistress, but as the 
guest of her stepfather. The latter, however, had not con- 
firmed Sievert’s suspicion ; after two days he had departed 
to join his Prince, who was staying at a distance from 

A . Jutta had not seen the Minister again. The day 

after the death of Frau von Zweiflingen, Frau von Her- 
beck had come to the forest-house, bringing with her his 
Excellency’s condolences ; and the magnificent bouquet, 
which at the poor woman’s funeral was placed in the 
coffin at her feet, came from the Arnsberg conservatories. 
Who could have had the heart to tell the unhappy woman 
that flowers sent from him would moulder away in her 
grave with her mortal remains I 

In the mean time Christmas was near at hand. He 
strode through the Thuringian forest clad in an icy coat 
of mail, and trailing his snow-cloak across the very 
thresholds and window-ledges of the low peasant cots ; 
frosty tears hung upon his eyelashes, and the wind of his 
breath sent all genial life to take shelter behind thick 
walls and beneath roofs ; but the crown of firs upon his 
dear and sacred brow shone like a royal diadem ; the cold, 
wintry sun gleamed unveiled in the clear blue sky, awak- 
ening pale sparks in every icicle ; and now, here and 
there, some young, slender evergreen is doomed to the 
axe, — there it stood, dreaming in its dim, wintry repose 
of growing tall and great, of the time when its slender 
trunk would stretch aloft into the blue air, seeming to 
touch the golden stars with its topmost boughs, of the 
purple blossoms which would shine amid its branches, 

6 


62 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


and, caressed by the warm sunlight, fling their beauty 
abroad into the world ; — and suddenly it wakes, roused 
by a warm, genial atmosphere ; its little boughs will 
never touch the skies, its crimson blossoms must always 
slumber, but surely the stars have fallen down from on 
high, and are glimmering upon its little branches, — ^the 
poor terrified fir has become a flower, the glowing, magic 
flower of the winter. 

Oh, happy, blessed Christmas-time ! 

There was bright sunshine in the blooming face of the 
wife of the pastor of Neuenfeld. It is true, those rather 
hard but most regular features were always informed 
with placid, almost joyous cheerfulness ; but now some- 
thing like suppressed delight shone in them. She had 
seven children, and she was to see these seven idolized, 
fair, curly heads stand in delighted surprise around the 
Christmas-tree. It had been no easy matter this year to 
provide the wherewithal for the Christmas festival, — the 
potatoes had not done well, and the pastor had absolutely 
needed a new winter coat, — but then, really, roast goose 
four times a year was sinful luxury for a poor Thuringian 
pastor, and accordingly the pastor’s wife sent three of 

her four fat geese to A with a light heart, and sold 

them for a good price. The single cow in the parsonage 
stable gave, to be sure, only the usual quantity of milk, 
still an extra pound of the famous butter from the Neuen- 
feld parsonge appeared every week in the market at 

A , and for months the pastor’s wife ate her morning 

crust and evening meal of potatoes with salt only ; and 
Rosamunde, the old servant, vied with her mistress in 
this system of self-denial. And at last the day came 
when the groschens, saved with such pains, returned to 
the parsonage in the shape of sundry packages and 
parcels. And while the half-frozen old woman, who 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


63 


acted as carrier for the village, was in the parsonage 
kitchen, behind locked doors, taking bundle after bundle 
from her huge basket, three little girls were cowering 
outside upon the worn threshold. Their fair, thick 
braids glued to the cracks of the door, and their freez- 
ing little hands tucked beneath their aprons, they were 
listening, in true mother Eve fashion, while three stout 
boys, at length convinced of the impossibility of seeing 
anything through the keyhole, enviously attempted to 
spoil their sisters’ enjoyment by pulling their thick braids 
and plucking at their skirts. Something fell upon the 
brick floor of the kitchen inside, and rolled along. “ There 
goes a nut!” they shouted in chorus, betraying their 
presence outside ; and their mother smilingly opened a 
parcel, and silently held it at the crack of the door, — “Ah, 
gingerbread-nuts!” Where is the German child to whom 
that fragrance does not bring dreams of the magic mys- 
teries of Christmas-time ! 

But all this joyous, childlike mystery down-stairs did 
not affect Jutta in the least. She only joined the family 
at meal-times. Her new black woollen dress, with its 
crape trimmings, fell in soft folds, forming a train, which 
lent a kind of quiet majesty to her figure, suddenly 
grown dignified and self-restrained in all its movements. 
This impression was strengthened by the pallor of the 
face with its compressed lips. The inmates of the par- 
sonage had never yet seen the charming little dimples 
which a smile called forth in the young girl’s cheeks; and 
the care with which her delicate lily-white hands gathered 
up her trailing skirts when she entered the dining-room 
was evidently not due only to the sand-strewn floor, — 
the gesture was a gracious but decided ‘ touch me not ’ 
to +he group of children. The little things looked shyly 
across the table at their silent, grave guest, — the merry 


64 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


clatter of fork and spoon was subdued, and the busy 
tongues were hushed for a time. 

The pastor respected Jutta’s ‘ deep silent grief, ^ 
and therefore treated her with increased consideration 
and esteem ; but the eyes of a wife and mother are 
sharper. The pastor’s wife often looked up secretly and 
searchingly from her plate, — it was not agony of mind 
that gave that stamp of dignified reserve to the counte- 
nance, or caused the young lady’s glance to fall so icily 
cold upon the truly almost irresistible loveliness of 
her little fair-haired darlings. ‘Deep silent grief’ shuns, 
all loud noise ; but Jutta had already began her piano 
practising again, and her fingers often ‘raved’ over 
the keys for hours at a time. Nevertheless, a genu- 
ine true woman will always endeavour to find excuses 
for what seems strange in the conduct of one of her own 
sex, and accordingly the pastor’s wife concluded that 
Jutta was naturally annoyed because she was prevented 
from seeing her lover more frequently. Young Berthold 
Eckhardt was still hovering between life and death, and 
although Sievert shared with Theobald the care of nurs- 
ing him, and never left the cottage day or night, still 
the overseer was too fearful of bringing infection with him 
to visit the parsonage, often never coming unless he had 
changed his dress at the foundry and walked for several 
hours in the open air. 

But Frau von Herbeck, with the little Countess, came 
hither almost daily. She never entered the rooms in the 
lower story ; but she, now and then, allowed little Gisela, 
if only for a few moments, to go into the nursery, while 
she sat by Jutta, sometimes until night fell, in uninter- 
rupted conversation. 

Christmas-eve had come. The hard, clear tones of 
colour, which characterize a cloudless winter’s day, were 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


66 


gradually giving place to the dull gray of twilight. It 
was very cold, — the breath turned to frosty vapour in 
the icy air, and the snow creaked under the wheels of 
vehicles and beneath human footsteps. Nevertheless, 
Frau von Herbeck had come to the parsonage with the 
little Countess, — Gisela wanted to see the Christmas- 
tree : her own was not to be lighted until the next day. 

A cheerful fire crackled and blazed in the little iron 
stove of the room up-stairs. A few grains of delicate 
pastile-powder, sprinkled upon its surface, wafted a slight 
incense cloud through the room, mingling with the strong 
aroma that proceeded from the little coflfee-urn upon the 
\able before the sofa. The candles were not yet lighted. 
The thick chintz curtains admitted only a few pale 
streaks of departing daylight, while dark shadows flitted 
hither and thither upon the walls. But from the draught- 
hole and only partially-closed door of the stove there 
streamed a ray of intense light, that illuminated redly 
the elegant piano and the gleaming white satin in the 
portrait that hung above it. A cosier place than this 
little room upon a wintry evening could not well be 
imagined. 

Gisela was kneeling upon a chair at the window. She 
could not go into the nursery yet because the children 
were in the bath. So she was amusing herself by watch- 
ing a hungry raven, who was hopping about upon a 
neighboring pear-tree, dislodging masses of snow with 
his drooping wings. In the plain little face there was 
no trace of the usual superficial interest with which the 
childish gaze commonly follows the quick motions of a 
bird. That young brain unquestionably containe^d the 
germ of a thoughtful love of investigation, of an earnest 
spirit that, engaged in pursuing with eager determination 
ihe origin and cause of what it perceives, loses for minutes 
E 6* 


66 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


at a time all perception of the outward world. Certainly 
the child, with her thoughtful eyes, heard not a word of 
the talk of the two ladies upon the sofa behind her. 

Frau von Herbeck had thrown her arm around Jutta’s 
slender waist. She was, in spite of her tolerably advaoced 
age, still very beautiful : that could not be denied, even 
by the side of the incomparable beauty of the younger 
lady. Her proportions were quite too colossal for the 
refined connoisseur in female beauty, and some pure 
feminine natures would have instinctively recoiled fron^er 
meaning, swimming glances; but she seemed so healthy, 
so fresh and rosy, and the large, slightly prominent eyes 
could, on occasion, look so serious and honest, that 
popular opinion unanimously pronounced this lady beau- 
tiful, charming, and very amiable. She was the childless 
widow of a poor officer of very noble descent, and had 
occupied the post of governess to Gisela in the Minister’s 
house during the lifetime of the Countess Ydldern. 
Heady to carry out unconditionally the views of the 
grandmother with regard to the child’s education, she 
had been designated by the Countess, upon her death- 
bed, as a ‘perfectly suitable’ guide and instructress to 
the youthful mind entrusted to her care. 

There she sat, dressed in rich dark silk, her beautiful 
and abundant hair arranged by the skilful hand of her 
maid after the latest fashion, relating episodes from 
the social life of the great world, while every trace of 
‘ deep silent grief ’ had disappeared from the face and 
figure of the delicate creature nestling so confidingly at 
her side. She was once more the same pleasure-loving 
being whom we have seen standing before the mirror in 
her mother’s wedding-dress with daffodils in her hair. 
The actual world about her, the little room had all van- 
ished from her consciousness as well as from that of the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


6T 


child dreaming at the window; her dark eyes were riveted 
upon the lips of the speaker, as one gay seductive picture 
followed another in her narrative. Only now and then 
she started and cast an angry irritated glance towards 
the door. Old Rosamunde was kneeling in the passage 
outside, by the light of a smoky kitchen lamp, scrubbing 
the floor, with noisy energy. It was the last of her 
Christmas-eve work, and she knew well how the feet of 
the ‘little savages’ would come thoughtlessly in, track- 
ing. tM mud and snow all over the white boards, and 
she strewed the sand thickly and noisily Upon every 
freshly-scrubbed place. 

Quick footsteps were suddenly heard on the stairs, 
and the pastor’s wife entered the room. She had a lighted 
candle in her left hand, and held her youngest boy, 
wrapped in a warm woollen covering, upon her right 
arm. The tall, strong woman, with her glowing cheeks 
and quick gestures, was the very picture of energetic 
activity. She pleasantly bade good-evening, and as both 
ladies held their hands before their dazzled eyes, placed 
the light upon the piano. 

“ There’s bustle enough in the old parsonage to-day, 
Fraulein Jutta?” she asked smiling, and showing two 
rows of sound, white, even teeth. “ Well, to-morrow, 
you shall have a really quiet holiday and a peaceful, 
empty house. My husband preaches at Greinsfeld, and 
I am going to take my noisy little flock over there with 
him, — my old cousin, Rdder, has invited us all to take 
coffee with her. Pray, Fraulein Jutta, let me leave my 
darling with you for half an hour, — Rosamunde has not 
quite finished her scrubbing, and it makes her. cross to 
be called from her work, and the children are absolutely 
beyond control, they are running from one keyhole to 
another, and then peeping up at the sky to see whether 


68 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


it is not growing dark, and this little rogue, who is so 
fond of climbing upon chairs, will, very likely, get a fall. 
Really, I need half a dozen pair of hands to-day; the 
children are already listening for the bell, and there is 
not one thing upon the Christmas-table yet.” 

She unwrapped the child, and set him upon Jutta^s 
lap. “There he is!” she said, stroking tenderly with 
her large, strong hand the downy hair, which had curled 
into soft rings beneath the warm covering. “ He is just 
out of the bath, and is as pure and white as a snowflake. 
He will not give you much trouble, he is the best child 
I have.” 

Possessed with the confidence of a loving mother, who 
thinks her child irresistible, she scarcely looked at Jutta; 
her eyes rested with tender pride upon her plump, little 
darling, who sat contentedly upon Jutta’s lap, exercising 
his four new little pearls of teeth upon the hard cracker 
which his mother put into his hand. 

The pastor’s wife turned away and walked towards 
the door, but those merry blue eyes were keen as a 
general’s, to investigate all the affairs of the household, — 
anything wrong or out of order was instantly detected, — 
and she suddenly paused and examined one of the boughs 
of evergreen, w'hich was growing around Frau von Zwei- 
flingen’s portrait, and which was distinctly seen by the 
light of her candle. The young shoots hung down half- 
withered for want of water. 

“ Oh, you poor things I” she cried compassionately, as 
she took up a pitcher of water that stood upon the table 
and watered the dry, hard earth, in which the plant was 
growing. “ Fraulein Jutta,” she said to her guest with 
kindly gravity, “ you must take better care of my ivy I 
Upon my first birthday here in the parsonage affairs 
looked rather dark for us. I had a child only a week 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


69 


old, and the purse was all but empty : my husband had 
not a groschen in his pocket; but he came in from the 
forest early in the morning, and placed these pots of ivy 
on the window-seat in my room, and, for the first time in 

my life, I saw tears in his eyes It cost me a pang 

to remove them to this room,” she continued, training 
the shoots, with a tender touch, around the strings fast> 
ened for the purpose along the walls ; “ but our people 
are too poor to paper this room for us, and I thought the 
whitewash looked too blank and uncomfortable for our 
dear guest.” 

As she uttered the last words her countenance resumed 
its usual expression of cheerful content. She put the 
candle upon the sofa-table, nodded at her boy, and hastily 
left the room. 

As the door closed behind her, Frau von Herbeck 
gazed for one moment, speechless with amazement, into 
Jutta’s face, and then burst into a loud, derisive laugh. 

“Well, I must say, I have never seen this naivete 
equalled!” she said, clasping her hands and sinking back 
among the swelling sofa-cushions. “ Heavens, what a 
classic face you have put on, my dear I and what a charm- 
ing child’s nurse you are ! I shall die of laughter I” 

Jutta bad never before had a child upon her lap, and, 
even when a little girl herself, had seldom associated with 
companions of her own age. At the beginning of the es- 
trangement between her parents, she had been placed 
under the care of a widowed relative living in con- 
ventual seclusion, and had only returned to her mother 
a short time before her father’s death. Her childhood 
had thus been passed among older people, whose aim it 
had been to educate her for a simple and retired life. 

And then too her girlish heart must have been want- 
ing in the womanly instinct which attracts every -genu- 


ro 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


ine woman to children, and teaches them how to treat 
them; for now, with her head thrown back and her arms 
dropped stiffly by her sides, she regarded the little in- 
truder upon her lap with a species of horror. She was 
vexed, indeed, at the demand that had been made upon 
her. She frowned, and her white teeth were buried in 
her under lip. 

'‘And how gracefully you have been reminded by your 
rustic friend of the superhuman sacrifice which has been 
made in this blessed parsonage to the ‘dear guest 1’” 
the lady continued, still laughing. “Heavens I what a 
coarse, commonplace person to be so sentimental about 
her green stuff here I If I were you I would have the 
flower-pots taken away directly and put where her weep- 
ing husband originally placed them ; depend upon it, you 
will be held answerable for every withered leaf, although, 
really, I cannot blame you if you ‘should forget to be 
always watering your hostess’s costly conservatory.” 

Little Gisela, from her chair, had been listening with 
great attention ; now she slipped down upon the floor 
and stood before her governess, her large, thoughtful 
eyes riveted upon her, and her sallow cheeks suffused with 
crimson. 

“ The flower-pots shall not be sent away,” she said 
angrily; “I will not have it, — it hurts me too much I” 
The child’s voice and gestures showed unmistakably that 
she was accustomed to command. 

Frau von Herbeck put her arm tenderly around the 
little girl and kissed her brow. “ No, no,” she said 
soothingly, “ they shall stay where they are if my sweet 
darling wishes it. But you do not understand, my angel ; 
the woman is not so kind as you think she is.” 

In the mean time Fritzchen had been placidly and con- 
tentedly working away at his cracker. The child, not 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


n 


quite nine months old, was, indeed, pure and white as a 
snowflake. His round, little face with its red cheeks and 
dimpled chin shone above the white ruffle of his night- 
dress, and the plump, mottled legs, that peeped from be- 
neath his little scarlet flannel wrapper, were still rosy 
from the soap-suds from which they had just emerged. 

Fritzchon was apparently animated by the principle of 
universal love of mankind. He suddenly remembered 
that he always offered mamma, Rosa, and his brothers 
and sisters whatever tasted good, — and so, with his un- 
certain baby hand, he took the cracker from his mouth, 
and tried to thrust it between Jutta’s lips. The young girl 
started with what seemed actual terror, and her face flushed 
scarlet with annoyance, but the little Countess laughed 
aloud, — she evidently thought it exceedingly comical. 

“ But, Gisela, my dear, how can you laugh Frau von 
Herbeck gently reproved her. “ Don’t you see that the 
rudeness of the child almost frightens poor Fraulein von 
Zweiflingen to death ? Indeed, I cannot see why our 
pleasant talk should be spoiled in this way,” she con- 
tinued with irritation. “ I’il soon put a stop to it !” 

She rose, took the little culprit from Jutta’s lap and 
placed him upon the floor. Instantly Gisela knelt beside 
him, and threw her little thin arm around his neck. “ He 
meant to be kind 1” she said, half compassionately, half 
defiantly. 

“ Fi done, my child I I beg you not to touch the dirty 
little fellow!” cried Frau von Herbeck, ignoring the 
child’s remark. 

Little Gisela made no reply, but anger and disobedi- 
ence flashed in the look which she cast at her governess. 
That lady’s position with her charge must have been a 
most difficult one, but she was ‘ well fitted’ for it, and 
knew what to do in an emergency. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


V2 


“What I is my darling obstinate?” she asked, with 
tender playfulness. “ Very well, sit there if you like I 
But what would papa say if he saw his little Countess 
Sturm crouching upon the floor like a maid-servant ? or 
your grandmamma ? Don’t you remember, my angel, 
how angry she was last year when you begged the hunts- 
man’s wife to put her baby upon your lap ? She is dead 
now, your dear beautiful grandmamma, — but you know 
she has gone to heaven, and can always look down and see 
what her little Gisela is doing ; she must be very sorry 
now, for what you are doing does not become your station.” 

‘It does not become your station.^ This was the 
magic formula which controlled the mind of this child. 
Not that the aristocratic element was so developed within 
her as to crush out every desire considered beneath her. 
She was too young for that ; but ‘it does not become your 
station,’ was what her ‘dear beautiful grandmamma’ 
had said so often before she went to heaven, and she had 
been and still was her orphan grandchild’s ideal of all 
that was exalted and infallible. Gisela still frowned an- 
grily and looked wistfully at the little exile upon the 
floor, but when the soft white hands of her governess 
gently drew her away from him, she made no resistance. 
Frau von Herbeck led her back with her to the sofa and 
kept her hand in her own. 

Fritzchen suddenly found himself lonely and forsaken. 
He threw away his cracker and stretched out his little 
arms to be taken; but Jutta turned away and busied 
herself with arranging her disordered curls and the folds 
of her dress, and Frau von Herbeck looked crossly at 
him, and shook a menacing forefinger. The poor little 
fellow gazed at her in terror for some time, his large 
blue eyes filled with tears, while he made what tender 
mothers call a ‘grieved lip,’ and finally burst out crying. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


73 


Immediately the quick footsteps of the pastor’s wife 
were heard without, and before the ladies were aware of 
it she entered the room. There sat her darling, lonely 
and rejected, upon the cold floor, while the fine ladies 
upon the sofa were sitting close together, as though they 
could not shrink far enough away from the plebeian 
child. 

The offended mother said not a word; but for a mo- 
ment her blooming cheek grew pale. Then she took up 
her boy and pressed him fondly to her breast, covered 
him once more warmly, and went to the door. Her 
utter silence, her simple bearing, almost royal in its 
dignity, disdaining all expression of outraged feeling, 
touched even the finished woman of the world upon 
the sofa. 

^‘My dear good woman,” she cried slightly embar- 
rassed, but in an insinuating tone, “ I am very sorry that 
we could not amuse the child better ; but he was restless, 
and Fraulein von Zweiflingen is still too much de- 
pressed ” 

It was my own fault that I did not remember that,” 
the pastor’s wife answered simply, without bitterness, 
and left the room. 

“ Ho not regret this occurrence, my love,” whispered 
the governess, noticing a shade of shame and embarrass- 
ment upon Jutta’s face. “I have saved you by this 
repulse from a series of annoying demands that would 
certainly else have been made upon your time. That 
woman is one of those ‘honest German’ housewives 
who are detestable from sheer excellence and integrity. 
Always ready with sage advice, they fasten upon a 
youthful nature and force it into the narrow path of 
what they call our feminine vocation, which they con- 
sider to be nothing else but reading the Bible, cooking a 

T 


74 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


dinner, or knitting a stocking. The woman has just 
made a first attempt in that direction. If I had not been 
here, you would most likely have been sitting down- 
stairs to-morrow mending the pastor’s old coat, or the 
holes in the stockings of his offspring.” 

Jutta started up; — at this moment her gloomy face 
could well have held its own beside the haughty features 
of the proudest ancestor of all who were hanging on the 
walls of the old forest-house, — there were the same re- 
pellant lines around the mouth, the same contemptuous 
flash from beneath the half-closed eyelids, which seemed 
to say, “ For me nothing which is not my equal or my 
superior has any existence !” 

Frau von Herbeck put her arm around her young 
friend and gently drew her down beside her again. Then 
she took up the delicate white hand that lay upon the 
black dress, almost-like the transparent leaf of a flower, 
and contemplated it tenderly. 

“It makes me actually unhappy,” she said with a 
shade of vexation in her voice, “to see anything so 
lovely in shape as this hand, and know that its beauty 
must be destroyed by the duties of an unsuitable position 
in life. Imagine these rosy nails, these charming dimples 
soiled by household labour I I cannot bear to think of it I 
May fate deal kindly with you, my love ! ’Tis true, you 
cannot escape some such trials as the wife of the over- 
seer.” 

“ Theobald has promised mamma and me that he will 
cherish me as the apple of his eye,” stammered the young 
girl in half-smothered accents. 

“ Yes, yes, dear love, that is all very fine, indeed, and 
the overseer is certainly a splendid young fellow who 
would, if it were required, give his heart's blood for you 
I have not the smallest doubt that his intentions are most 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


75 


excellent. But such a happy lover never seriously counts 
the cost that comes after marriage, and then what must 
be must. The family increases but not the income, and 
when the husband cannot afford to pay for a sempstress, 
there is nothing for the wife to do but, whether she is 
well or ill, draw her husband’s coarse stockings over her 
hand and — darn them.” 

Frau von Herbeck paused and cast a sidelong glance 
at Jutta’s face that lay against her shoulder. The girl’s 
lips were tightly compressed, and her gaze was riveted 
gloomily upon the ground as though she saw there 
what the governess had just described. Frau von Her- 
beck smiled very slightly, and the expression of her 
large swimming eyes was not exactly what one would 
have expected from a lady of so elevated a character. 
She passed her hand lightly across her friend’s ruffled 
brow. 

“Ah, don’t make such a pitiful face, my love 1” she 
said soothingly and insinuatingly, as was her wont to 
address those under her charge. “ Do you think I had 
any special instance in view in what I have just said ? 
Heaven forbid I Even if I tried, I could not imagine 
the lovely Jutta von Zweiflingen in such a situation, 
although I can remember many a brilliant young crea- 
ture plunged into similar depths by a foolish romantic 
carriage. And, little by little, everything that en- 
'iches and adorns existence is thrown overboard. The 
beloved piano stands dusty and neglected in the corner, 
all the charming books and the pretty embroidery vanish 
from the work-table, and in their place we see dirty 
primers and writing-books, with a basketful of torn linen, 
waiting to be mended — oh, I know all about it. The 
wife brushes her lovely curls smoothly behind her ears 
or tucks them beneath a plain cap. It looks ugly enough, 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


t6 

but what of that ? there is no longer any occasion to look 
pretty — no one sees her 1” 

J ulta sprang up without a word, tossed back her curls 
with an almost passionate gesture of impatience, and 
went to the piano. Whatever was passing in her mind 
was sufiBciently agitating to affect her breathing, which 
was short and almost gasping. 

She opened the instrument, seated herself before it, 
and with great vehemence began to play a wild Hun- 
garian melody with the same hands that had been too 
weak from grief to hold the child of the pastor’s wife for 
a moment. The notes came rolling forth from the keys 
like strings of pearls ; there were billows of tone, from 
which the melody continually emerged, and, with strange 
gypsy-like shapes illuminated by the camp-fire, horse- 
men fleeing by night across wide plains surrounded by 
herds of wild horses with fluttering manes, with dying 
heroes and bold bandits, — with all these weird images 
setting the fevered blood throbbing, soared abroad from 
the little windows into the calm, solemn silence of the 
Holy Eve. The mountains stretched their dark limbs 
aloft ; the heaven, sparkling with gold, arched itself 
from one summit to another, harmonizing the heights 
and depths even as the reconciling thought of the Cruci- 
fied is spread far aud wide above the cleft and torn 
creation that we call mankind. And mankind? — It 
sharpens to swords His gentle words and lacerates 
itself with them. The worship of Baal converts to a 
dumb idol the star of salvation which the shepherds 
once watched rising above our little earth, and perse- 
cutes with zealous rage the living spirit that streams 
down upon us from it — but in vain — it always shines, — 
and with His mighty word, ‘ Let there be light,’ God 
himself has ordained that never more shall darkness 
reign over the world. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


n 


CHAPTER Y. 

The last stormy chords had scarcely died away be- 
neath Jutta’s fingers, when the pastor’s wife looked in 
at the door. Every trace of injured feeling had vanished 
from her radiant countenance, — hers was a spirit that 
quickly consoled itself by thinking; — “ they cannot dream 
of the tenderness of a mother’s heart.” With that reflec- 
tion all irritation fled. 

She called in that all was now ready. The little 
Countess seized her hand. Jutta closed the piano, and 
Frau von Herbeck arose from her seat amid the sofa- 
cushions, with a smile so sweet and insinuating that no 
one would have dreamed that she had ever harboured 
one unkind thought of the woman standing in the door- 
way. 

Below, in the little study, the pastor was already 
seated at the cracked old spinet. He was certainly in 
outward appearance not one whom the mystic of to-day 
would like to. see in the pulpit. Those features had not 
been blanched by the lurid fire of fanaticism ; there was 
no trace upon that brow of the inflexible intolerance of 
the gloomy zealot ; that head was not inclined upon the 
breast as if to show to the world a living model of Chris- 
tian humility, — he was a genuine - son of the Thurin- 
gian forest, a powerful, burly figure, with a broad chest 
and a brow so frank beneath his thick, dark curls, 
that no concealment could ever be suspected of lurking 
behind it. Around him stood his children, — chubby- 
eheek^^d little heads, just like those cherubim painted 


78 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


upon the church ceiling and over the old organ. Their 
beaming blue eyes were riveted upon their father’s face. 
He saluted the ladies as they entered by a mute obei- 
sance, then struck the keys, and the children joined in 
solemnly and clearly, — 

Hosanna to the Lord our God, for Christ the Lord is born.” 

At the close of the verse, the pastor’s wife opened the 
door of the adjoining room, and the light of the Christ- 
mas-tree streamed in. The children did not rush in with 
shouts of joy; they stepped shyly across the threshold — 
that could not be their dear old room, whose walls they 
could hardly see in the evening in the twilight of the 
single tallow candle I The little mirror and the glass 
that covered the few pictures actually reflected a flood 
of light — and bright rays were now dancing even upon 
the old worn tiles of the stove. 

But the little Countess stood there with disappoint- 
ment in every feature of her face. Was that a Christ- 
mas-tree ? That poor little fir, with the thin candles scat- 
tered sparsely here and there upon its boughs! Little 
red apples and nuts which the wealthy invalid child 
was not allowed to eat, and some few figures, uncertain 
in outline, made of brown gingerbread: — those were 
all the wonders that hung upon the green twigs. And 
beneath, upon the white tablecloth, lay slates, writing- 
books, pencils, things that any one might have, if they 
wanted them : there was no need for the Christ-child to 
come down from heaven to bring those ! And yet how 
the children were enjoying it, now that their first shy- 
ness had worn off! They never noticed the mute surprise 
of the little Countess; they could not have understood it; 
they never saw the supercilious smile upon Frau von Her- 
beck’s face. It had appeared when they began to sing 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


79 


and it was still there — even their parents never recog- 
nized the character of that smile. Why, their mother 
smiled herself when her little girls slipped on their 
new, gay, woollen petticoats, and her ‘ Fatty,’ as he 
was called, held up by the side of his sturdy legs the 
new trousers that she herself had cut out and made in 
the quiet night from her husband’s oldest coat, bought 
when he was a curate. And there was enough for the 
father to do, as he carried happy little crowing Fritz 
about upon his arm ; he had dutifully to admire every 
single article that the Christ-child had brought into his 
house ; he had no time to observe the countenances of his 
guests. 

Besides, when the lights in the tree were extinguished, 
he had to retire to his study ; one of his colleagues had 
fallen ill, and he had therefore undertaken one more 
sermon than usual for the holidays, — so he went to pre- 
pare it. 

Frau von Herbeckand Jutta had retreated to a sofa as 
soon as they entered the room ; there at least the skirts 
of their dresses were safe from the feet of the little sav- 
ages. The table in front of them was now spread ; old 
Rosamunde brought in a gigantic porcelain teapot filled 
with tea, and placed around it a number of shining queens- 
ware teacups, while the pastor’s wife put beside them a 
plate of fresh cake, a pat of delicious butter, honey, and 
a loaf of brown bread. 

The little Countess turned away instantly from this 
Christmas feast. She had been strictly forbidden to eat 
fresh cake or brown bread. She crossed her hands be- 
hind her like a little professor, and gravely watched the 
sports of the other children. ‘ Fatty’ was seated upon 
a wooden horse painted bright red, rolling up and down 
the room with loud cries of encouragement to his steed. 


8C 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


That is a very ugly horse said Gisela, as he rushed 
past her. 

The enthusiastic horseman stopped, greatly outraged. 

“Nothing is ugly that the Christ-child brings us,^’ he 
replied, deeply offended, his little heart full of unutterable 
gratitude towards the Christ-child. 

“ Real horses are not so red, and never have such stiff 
tails,” the little girl continued to criticise. “You’d bet- 
ter let me give you ray elephant; it runs through the room 
by itself when you wind it up with the key. There is a 
princess sitting upon it, who nods her head and ” 

“ Oh, there is a princess sitting upon it I” ‘ Fatty’ an- 
swered patronizingly. “And where should I sit, then ? 
I’d far rather have my horse ; I don’t want your old ele- 
phant.” 

And he rolled off cracking his whip. Gisela looked 
after him in amazement. She was accustomed to have 
people seize her hand and kiss it whenever she offered 
them gifts, — and here she had been so rudely repulsed. 
But it provoked her more than all that the boy should 
insist upon thinking that ‘ horrible’ horse beautiful. She 
looked towards her governess, but that lady was absorbed 
in conversation with Jutta, and was just putting her tea- 
cup cautiously to her lips, only to put it down again in- 
stantly with a little shudder. 

The strange child, who possessed so little aptitude for 
associating with others, stood lonely in the midst of the 
Christmas glee ; her distaste for dolls made her avoid the 
corner where two little girls were tending a thick-headed 
‘crying baby,’ and the advance that she had made to 
‘ Fatty’ had been repelled so decidedly. But there at a 
side-table, upon which an extra candle was burning this 
evening, stood the first-born of the house, a boy about 
nine years old, and by his side the sister next him in age 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


8l 

Both were eagerly reading a book, and the world around 
them was utterly forgotten. The little girl had spread 
her snowy pocket-handkerchief upon the spotless white 
table, and had laid the book upon it like some sacred relic. 
The children scarcely dared to touch the crisp new leaves 
with the tips of their fingers. It was ‘ Grimm’s Fairy 
Tales,’ which their father had placed beneath the tree. 

“'The Star Dollars,’” the boy read, half aloud, “ There 
was once a little girl,” — Gisela took two steps, and stood 
directly behind him : the beginning was too enchanting. 
She could read fluently, — and for this young creature, 
with her strong imaginative tendency, the fairy-world 
possessed a bewildering charm. 

“ Give me the book in my own hands and I will read 
it to you,” she said to the boy, after she had vainly en- 
deavoured by standing on tiptoe to catch a glimpse of 
its contents. 

“ I hardly like to do that,” he said, thrusting his fin- 
gers among his fair, close curls in some embarrassment ; 
“ papa will cover the beautiful binding for me to-morrow 
with thick paper, and ” 

“ I will not hurt it,” Gisela interrupted tim impatiently. 
“ Give me the book !” She stretched out her hand. In 
that imperious gesture there was all the confidence of the 
spoiled child of fortune who had never known direct con- 
tradiction. 

The boy measured the little figure in great surprise. 

“ Oho, not quite so fast !” he cried. He was already, 
as the eldest of the flock, of great assistance to his pa- 
rents in the training of the others. It was his duty to 
continually serve as a shining example, and this office, 
which necessitated much martyr-like self-denial, gave 
him great dignity of demeanour. He took up the book, 
carefully wrapping around it the pocket-handkerchief. 

F 


82 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


well, you may have it,” he said gravely; “but 
you must be gentle and good, and say, ‘If you please,’ — 
all children must say ‘if you please.’” 

Whether the child had been irritated by her encounter 
with ‘ Fatty,’ or whether the consciousness of her social 
position really took possession of her at this moment, 
the beautiful hazel eyes sparkled with unbounded haught- 
iness ; and, turning her back upon the boy, she said con- 
temptuously, “I never need say it.” 

The effect of these words was striking. The horse- 
man who was just passing reined in his steed in evident 
amazement, although he was himself possessed of a con- 
siderable amount of obstinacy ; while the two little 
mothers left their helpless baby in the corner, and ran 
to stare, with wide-open eyes, at the naughty little girl. 
And all cried out with one accord, “ Oh, children must 
always say ‘if you please.’” . 

This sentence, pronounced in unison, caught Frau von 
Herbeck’s attention in the midst of her conversation with 
Jutta. What the children were saying and the defiant 
attitude of her young charge explained to her what had 
just occurred. 

In terrified haste, as if she beheld the young Count- 
ess tottering upon the brink of an abyss, she called 
out, “ Gisela, my child, I pray you come instantly to 
me.” 

At this moment the pastor’s wife, who had been put- 
ting little Fritz to bed, entered the room. 

“ She will not say ‘ if you please,’ mamma,” cried the 
children in chorus, pointing to Gisela, who was still 
standing motionless in the middle of the room. 

“No, I will not I” she repeated; but beneath the 
gentle searching gaze of the pastor’s wife, her tone was 
not as decided and harsh as before. “Grandmamma 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


83 


said it did not become me to say ‘ if you please ’ to any 
one but papa, not even to Frau von HerbeckI” 

‘‘Did your grandmother really say so, my child?” 
asked the pastor’s wife seriously and kindly, slightly 
lifting the little head, and looking full into the obstinate 
face. 

“ I can assure you, my excellent friend, that such was 
always the precept of the late sainted Countess,” an- 
swered Frau von Herbeck very impertinently in the 
child’s stead. “And I should suppose no one could 
have a more perfect right to entertain such sentiments 
than she in her exalted position. And I beg leave to 
advise you, principally for the sake of your children 
themselves, to impress upon them the fact that the little 
Countess Sturm is a very different person from the com- 
mon children with whom they are accustomed to asso- 
ciate.” 

Without replying one syllable to this disinterested ad- 
vice, the pastor’s wife desired her eldest boy to tell her 
what had occurred. 

“You should have been more polite,” she said re- 
provingly when he had finished, “ and have given little 
Gisela the book as soon as you saw that she wished for 
it, for she is our guest , — you must not forget that, my 
son I” Then she opened the study-door and bade the 
children go and bid their father good-night. ‘Fatty’ 
immediately, with a mournful farewell-look, but without 
one thought of disobedience, pushed his steed into a 
corner, the little girls wrapped their baby, head and all, 
in a warm covering, and, after a courteous ‘good-night’ 
10 the two ladies, they marched into the next room, 
ranged like organ-pipes, according to their age and size, 
and shortly came out to go to their sleeping-rooms in 
charge of old Rosamunde. Then the pastor’s wife gave 


84 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


the fairy book to little Gisela, and, having led her into 
the adjoining warm nursery, returned to her guests. 

“ I still owe you an answer, my dear madame,” she 
said in her deep, strong voice, whilst her clear blue eyes 
undauntedly sustained the severe glances of the lady 
who sat opposite her upon the sofa. “ I could not allow 
those curious little ears to listen any longer to what you 
were saying, because it contradicts all my rules of edu- 
cation — even the most humbly-born parent has a right to 
her own views upon this point. And how can I teach 
my children respect for the mere rank of the little Count- 
ess when I am not myself conscious of the faintest vestige 
of such respect 

Oh, oh, is there then so little humility beneath a 
pastor’s roof?” the governess interrupted her, with a 
stereotyped smile indeed, but in a tone of extreme ran- 
cour. 

The pastor’s wife smiled also, but with that incom- 
parable sense of humour which breathed from the genial 
force of her nature. 

“ We are really not devoid of it,” she said with a kind 
of arch simplicity ; “ it only depends upon what you call 
humility, my dear madame ; but surely a true pastor’s 
wife should take her stand upon the word of God; 
and, as I read my Bible, I find that it inculcates the 
fear and worship of God, but never fear and idolatry of 
man.” 

During this bold, frank speech, Frau von Herbeck 
leaned negligently back in the corner of the sofa mechan- 
ically stirring the tea in her still full cup with her tea- 
spoon. This apparently indolent bearing, combined with 
the cold indifferent glance which dropped from beneath 
her half-closed eyelids upon the plate before her, said 
plainly, ‘‘ I am here in most unworthy society. I had best 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


85 


extricate myself from these degrading surroundings as 
soon as possible.” She never even looked at Jutta, who 
sat beside her in most painful embarrassment. 

The pastor’s wife had paused for a moment, — her clear 
understanding comprehending at once the tactics of the 
aristocratic governess, — ^but she was not to be intimidated, 
what she had said must be explained 

“ I am fond of that little child,” she continued, firmly 
and decidedly, pointing over her shoulder towards the 
nursery, “and I should be glad to show her a kindness 
at any time, but as for respecting her on account of her 
rank, my dear madame, something more than rank is 
needed to inspire respect. I cannot understand how 
grown people can bow down before a child, humour its 
caprices, and regard its immature thoughts and actions 
as eminent wisdom, simply because it is nobly born. 
Indeed, my husband is right when he says that by such 
servility genuine human dignity is trampled under foot. 
And as for my children, who look out upon the world and 
life with such frank, fearless eyes, without any idea as 
yet of what men call ‘ mine and thine,’ and ‘ lofty and 
lowly,’ how could I persuade and teach the innocent 
things to regard that little helpless child, — who requires 
as much care and attention as themselves, and who knows 
and understands just as little, who is just as apt to be 
obstinate and to require punishment, — with the same re- 
spect with which they look up to their father and mother ? 
Why, they could not understand it any more than — I 
could myself” 

Frau von Herbeck arose. 

“ Well, my good friend, that is your affair,” she said. 
“You will see the fruits of this admirable system of 
yours when you wish to provide in life for your sons.” 
“Each one will be able to earn his daily bread,” 
8 


86 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


quietiy replied the pastor’s wife. “ My children shall 
be brought up in strict honesty and industry, and then 
let come what may I I would far rather that they should 
earn a scanty support by the labour of their hands than 
that they should obtain a competency by servility and 
hypocrisy.” 

Without, the sound of sleigh-bells was heard ; the 
sleigh had arrived that was to carry the little Countess and 
her governess back to the castle. Gisela entered from the 
nursery, and handed the book to the pastor’s v/ife. What 
a strange child she was I Neither Frau von Herbeck, 
with all her caressing tenderness, nor any one of her at- 
tendants, could boast of receiving a single demonstration 
of affection from the little girl ; she recoiled shyly from 
every approach, and even obstinately repulsed her step- 
father's affectionate advances ; now she suddenly stood 
on tiptoe, and threw her little thin arms around the neck 
of the woman whose whole bearing was so incorruptibly 
upright, and from whom the high-born child had never 
received one atom of personal homage. 

The pastor’s wife kissed the little mouth that was 
held up to her ; “ God bless you, my dear child ; be good 
and true I” she said, and the full tones of her voice 
melted to tenderness; she knew that the child would 
never come to the parsonage again. 

Frau von Herbeck’s face grew quite pale at this un- 
looked-for occurrence ; but she was accustomed to regard 
the rare instances of an independent expression of feeling 
in the child towards others as so many demonstrations 
of petty malice towards herself, and therefore she took 
pains to bestow upon this ‘ childlike exhibition’ a cold, 
indifferent smile. The ‘ disgusting scene’ was te-minated 
at this moment by the entrance of a lackey with an arm- 
ful of shawls and cloaks. 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


8T 


Carry those things up into Fraulein von Zweiflingen’s 
room,” Frau von Herbeck ordered harshly ; then taking 
Gisela’s hand she bowed condescendingly to her hostess, 
and said in her sweetest tone, “ Many thanks for our 
charming Christmas-eve, my excellent friend.” 

She left the room, and hurried before the others with 
feverish impatience up the stairs and along the passages, 
entirely oblivious, for the moment, of all grace and dignity, 
and even without her usual care for her toilette ; her stiff, 
elegantly-trimmed dress swept along Rosamunde’s artis- 
tically sanded floor, and left the still damp boards quite 
bare. When in Jutta’s room, she stood like a statue for 
one moment, and then suddenly dropped helplessly into 
a chair,— she was quite beside herself. 

“ Dearest Fraulein J utta, I must stay here for one mo- 
ment,” she gasped, taking a long breath. “I cannot pos- 
sibly go home and be seen by our people in this agitated 
state — ^their idle eyes and tongues are always ready to 
spy and gossip. Only feel my cheeks how they burn I” 

She pressed her brow and cheeks alternately with her 
wnite hands, as if to cool her hot blood. 

“ Heavens, what a frightful evening I have had !” she 
cried, throwing back her head and staring at the ceiling. 
“ Never in my life have I been subjected to such — ^pray 
excuse me — degrading associations! What have I not 
been obliged to listen to patiently I How insolently that 
common, coarse creature declared her sentiments, — senti- 
ments that may cost her dear husband his living. liet 
her take heed to what she says ! And such unction, too, 
— her phrases all besprinkled with piety and the fear of 
God ! This is the reason why ‘the word of God in the 
land’ is a perfect abomination, because it is forever, to 
tell the truth, made a trade of, — eternally harped upon.” 

She arose, and walked several times to and fro. 


88 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


“ Say yourself, my child,” she began, again standing 
still, and laying her hand upon Jutta’s arm, “ was it not 
a hard trial for a person of cultivated taste and real musi- 
cal appreciation to be snatched ruthlessly away from 
your divine, performance upon the piano to listen to that 
choral down-stairs from those children’s piping voices? 
Why should I conceal that I never liked chorals ? I am, 
I confess, no transcendentalist; I found that farce down- 
stairs ridiculous in the extreme, and was irritated to be 
obliged to take part in it. One thing more, dearest Frau- 
lein von Zweiflingen : of course this is the last time Gisela 
and I shall ever appear in this saintly parsonage I” 

Jutta grew pale, and averted her countenance; but the 
little Countess, who, during her governess’ passionate 
declaration had been quietly putting on her cloak and 
hood, now stepped hastily forward,- and said in precisely 
the determined tone which she had heard from the pas- 
tor’s son, and which had evidently impressed her, — 
“Oho, not so fasti I shall certainly come again.” 
“We will see about that, my child,” replied Frau von 
Herbeck, instantly regaining her self-control, — in her ex- 
citement she had evidently entirely forgotten the child’s 
presence. “Papa is the one to decide about that. You 
are too young yet to know, my angel, what bitter 
enemies you have in this house.” 

The lady threw her arms around Jutta, and pressed 
the slender form to her breast. 

“And now listen to me,” she whispered. “ The insup- 
portable uproar, the terrible mixture called tea, and the 
coarse food which has been served to us, the clouds of 
tobacco smoke, which really issue in mephitic vajiour 
from the cracks in the door of the pastor’s study and poi- 
son the air, — in a word, the host of annoyances to wnich 
we have both been subjecte 1 to-day, has forced upon me 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


89 


the conviction that your longer stay in this house is im- 
possible. At least, until you exchange your grand old 
name for your new appellation, you are entitled to all the 
privileges and prerogatives of your rank. I will take 
you with me, and instantly. We will tell those people 
down-stairs that you are only coming to me for the 
holidays, or they will never let you go. You will neither 
be the guest of the Minister nor of the little Countess 
Sturm, — you will belong only to me. I will devote to 
you two pretty rooms from my own ample suite of apart- 
ments ; and if either you or your lover feel any delicacy 
about your residence at Castle Arnsberg — why, give 
Gisela lessons upon the piano, and certainly no obliga- 
tion will be incurred. Will you come 

Instead of answering, Jutta glided from Frau von Her- 
beck’s arms, and went into the adjoining room, whence 
she returned, after a few moments, wrapped in a small 
well-worn cloak. 

“ Here I am, take me I” she said with beaming eyes. 

Frau von Herbeck suppressed with difficulty the smile 
that rose to her lips at the sight of the odd figure before 
her in the small old-fashioned garment. She took hold 
of it and felt how thinly it was wadded. 

“ That little cloak is much too light. Consider, we 
are going out into the frosty night air I” she said, taking 
off the garment and dropping it upon the floor. “ Lena 
has sent us here a perfect load of wrappings,” she con- 
tinued, pulling out from the pile of cloaks and shawls a 
long cloak of royal blue velvet, trimmed with fur, and 
with a white Cashmere hood. With her own hands she 
wrapped the soft costly garment around Jutta’s head and 
shoulders. 

A few minutes more and the cosy little room was 
deserted, and the three were descending the staircase, at 

8 * 


90 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


the foot of which stood Rosamunde with the flickering 
kitchcn-lamp. The old servant almost dropped the lamp 
in her surprise, as Jutta approached her, — it was really a 
dazzling vision. It is true that the head, so proudly 
erect, enveloped in its white fleecy hood, and the figure, 
descending so loftily, wrapped in the velvet cloak, were 
wanting in every maidenly charm, — it seemed as though 
that had all been laid aside with the shabby old cloak in 
the room up-stairs, — ^but the young lady looked every inch 
what she wished to be, the proud scion of an ancient and 
haughty race. 

She was just about to address herself to Rosamunde 
when, from a dark corner of the spacious hall, Sie vert’s 
gray head suddenly emerged. His sour, gloomy counte- 
nance was the last which the fugitive desired to see at 
this moment. The vivid flush of a disagreeable surprise 
appeared in her cheeks, but her features in vain stiffened 
into a repellant expression, — the old soldier was nothing 
daunted nor discomposed, — on the contrary, he continued 
to approach, while his glance rested disdainfully upon 
the girl’s superb costume. 

“ The overseer sent me,” he began. 

‘‘Man, are you just from the house where there is 
typhus fever?” shrieked Frau von Herbeck in dismay, 
screening the little Countess behind her ample skirts, and 
holding her lace pocket-handkerchief to her lips. 

“ Oh, there’s no need of a fuss I” replied Sievert with 
a growl, as, in what could hardly have been called a re- 
spectful manner, he stretched out his bony hand towards 
the trembling governess. “Your life is notin danger I 
The overseer does not allow any one to come to the 
parsonage without taking every precaution. I have been 
fumigated and aired in the foundry for hours, although it 
is all nonsense, for the doctor says the danger from in- 
fection is all pastl” 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


91 


He turned again to J utta. “ I was to tell you that he 
could not come here this evening to the Christmas-tree, 
because our student is just — just dying.’’ At the last 
words his hoarse voice grew almost shrill with the effort 
to keep from breaking 

“ Oh, Heavens, poor fellow I” cried Jutta ; it was un- 
certain to whom she alluded, — to her lover or to the 
dying man, — but it seemed as if she comprehended that 
this was scarcely the moment in which to carry out the 
independent scheme she had contemplated, for she turned 
involuntarily as if to ascend the stairs. Frau von Her- 
beck suddenly seized her hand and held it as if in the 
grasp of a vice. 

“It is most unfortunate,” she said, and the intense 
sympathy in her voice was excellently feigned. “ It is 
doubly my duty not to leave you alone at such a melan- 
choly moment. Come, my dear child, we must not let 
Gisela stand any longer in this cold draught.” 

Jutta descended the last stairs. 

“ Tell the overseer that I am most wretched,” she said 
to Sievert, “I am going to Arnsberg for a few days, 
and ” 

“You are going to Arnsberg!” he cried, seizing his 
gray head with both hands, as though he failed to com- 
prehend what he heard. 

“And why not, fellow?” asked Frau von Herbeck 
with icy coldness and that expression of feudal supe- 
riority which should immediately silence all impertinent 
remonstrance. But the embittered old soldier was not 
one whit dismayed. He broke into a harsh disdainful 
laugh. “To Castle Arnsberg that belongs to Baron 
Fleury!” he repeated. 

Frau von Herbeck glanced towards the door. There 
stood the footman immovable, hat in hand ; and with* 


92 


COUNTESS GISELA 


out, the coachman was cowering upon the box wrapped 
in furs. Of course they heard every word. 

“I must entreat you, dearest Friiulein von Zweiflin- 
gen, to cut short this extraordinary interview,” she said 
maliciously, with an uncertain gleam in her eyes. ‘‘ I do 
lot understand what the man wants.” 

“But I know!” Jutta interrupted the lady in great 
iriitation, drawing herself haughtily up. “ He wishes to 
dictate to me. He is only too apt to forget his position, 
and take most unjustifiable liberties. But let me tell you, 
Sievert,” and she turned to the old man and continued in 
a disdainful voice that trembled with indignation, “ that 
the time is past when you could presume to tell the 
honest truth, as you call it, to my poor mamma and my- 
self, thereby making our lives thoroughly miserable. If 
mamma, in her invalid state, was willing to bear your 
eternal coarseness and contradiction, that was her aflair 
but I forbid all interference with me upon your part foi 
the future I” 

And she swept past him, turning once more to Rosa- 
munde, with an inimitable mixture of grace and aristo- 
cratic dignity. She was evidently born to command. 

“ Tell your master and mistress that I shall be Frau 
von Herbeck’s guest during the holidays.” Then, as the 
old servant stood speechless, she passed the bowing 
lackeys with a slight inclination of her head, and got 
into the sleigh in which Frau von Herbeck and the little 
Countess were already seated. It flew over the snow 
with arrow-like speed ; the road was short and level, and 
yet it bridged an unfathomable abyss; the furrows whi^h 
the sleigh left in the snow were the only and final link 
binding together castle and parsonage. 

Sievert stood perfectly dumb at the foot of the stair- 
case, — the bells of the retreating sleigh roused him from 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


93 


the stupor in which he had followed Jutta with his eyes. 
And now he rushed out into the darkness. “ Thank- 
less 1 thankless I” he muttered, stretching his clenched 
fists towards the sparkling skies in great agitation, — 
there, above the overseer’s hut glittered the white ray 
of Sirius, the pale favourite of the old astronomer. His 
gloomy gaze became fixed upon it. “Yes, yes, there 
stands the old fellow as firm as ever he laughed bit- 
terly. “But he is no longer red, as the ancients de- 
scribe him. Hurrah for change I’ ’tis the same up there 
as with our wretched humanity I Go, go to the castle I 
‘Good luck go with you I’ says old Sievert; but it will 
be a miracle if the One above adds his blessing.” 


CHAPTER YI. 

Castle Arnsberg did not stand upon a mountain like 
most of the old Thuringian castles. Some noble Nimrod 
of the thirteenth century, who found his delight in living 
among wolves and bears, had heaped up the huge pile 
of masonry in the midst of what must have been in those 
times an almost impenetrably wild valley. The rough 
walls, of immense thickness, had been built without any 
attempt at architectural decoration, only here and theie 
had been left a small oddly-shaped window, through 
which the breath of the forest and the green light of the 
foliage could slip in. But the question was not only 
how to make it secure from the wild beasts of the wil- 
derness. The spirit of invention, which has been busy 
from all time in pondering how to settle after the blood- 
iest fashion all questions of right and wrong, mine and 


94 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


thine, lords and villains, and which, in our weapon-gifted 
century, has culminated in the needle-gun and the breach- 
loader, struck terror then with its battering-rams, bolts, 
and huge balls of stone, and therefore the castle in the 
valley was guarded by a high wall and a deep ditch. In 
more modern times, when the footsteps of civilization ap- 
peared even in the wilderness, when the ploughshare 
turned up the virgin soil and the sunlight fell upon 
broad fields of blue flax and waving wheat, the beasts of 
prey retreated, while their former persecutors, the old 
lordly race, with their wild fury for the chase, were 
obliged to yield foot by foot of the domain they had 
usurped to the encroachments of their fellow-men, who 
had the presumption to desire to exist upon God’s fair 
earth. And the air of more modern times breathed also 
upon the den of the old Nimrod. The ditch dried up, — 
the stones that had fallen out of the surrounding wall 
were not replaced, and the chains of the drawbridge had 
grown rusty, it. was never raised. 

The castle passed through various hands, and every 
new proprietor patched and altered the old building to 
suit the style of his times, until at last it entirely lost the 
character of a feudal hold, and grew to be a comfortable, 
but still imposing, chateau. The blackened walls, in 
which long rows of windows had been cut with incredi- 
ble trouble, were covered with a light, shining stucco, 
which gave Castle Arnsberg the name, in all the country 
round, of the White Castle. Carefully tended velvet 
turf, studded with groups of flowers, had taken the place 
of the dull, deceptive green of the algaB growing upon the 
stagnant waters of the ditch, where the rising miasma had 
once infected the fresh breeze from the forest, and only a 
crumbling tower here and there, or a black fragment of 
wall, beneath some ancient oak, wreathed all over with 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


95 


creeping plants, and ornamenting the castle garden as a 
picturesque ruin, remained to tell of the once massive 
defences of the place. But within, the old pile had still 
preserved the interesting physiognomy of the middle 
ages. Although the period of renaissance, and the rococo 
style, with its regular irregularity, had been busy at 
work here, yet they had by no means obliterated the 
traces of the rude and savage austerity of the original 
plan of the building. Perhaps it was this hidden hint 
of stern simplicity that possessed an unconscious, mys- 
terious charm for little Gisela, whose nature was so 
averse to pomp and show. The child liked to be at 
Arnsberg, and did not wish to return to town, although 
she lived here among the louely snow-clad mountains 
like a little enchanted princess, .never enjoying the op- 
portunity of seeing another childish face, and unavoidably 
driven to companionship with only Frau von Herbeck 
and Jutta. It is true that Baron Fleury, in spite of the 
snow-blocked roads, came almost every week to the 
White Castle to see the child. The world admired this 
tender devotion and self-sacrifice; but the child herself 
never smiled upon him after his tedious journeys. And 
he scarcely ever contradicted her, — it seemed even as if 
he granted most gladly her most unreasonable desires. 
He brought her costly toys and articles of dress, some- 
times, indeed, confiscating at the same time the German 
story and fairy books that she loved so passionately, de- 
claring that the Countess* Sturm must never be a book 
worm. By advice of the governess, he now forbade all 
further intercourse with the Neuenfeld parsonage, and 
gave strict orders that the child should never for a 
moment be unaccompanied by attendants befitting her 
rank, — and yet she would have liked so much to run 
alone in the more remote passages and corridors of the 


96 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


castle, especially in the ancient disused saloon that ad- 
joined the castle chapel. Its walls were covered with 
capital antique frescoes from biblical history, — “ Horrible 
things that she could not see without frightful dreams 
of them at night,” said Frau von Herbeck shudderingly, 
as she refused to accompany her hither. But more than 
all else did the lessons on the piano, which Fraulein von 
Zweiflingen had been engaged to give the little Countess, 
arouse the child’s determined opposition. 

In the whole course of her young life Jutta had 
hitherto met only one human being, old Sievert, who 
had at all times opposed an immutable gravity to her 
irresistible fascinations ; but now, in more intimate 
association with Gisela, she encountered the same ex- 
perience for the second time. It was most interesting to 
see the plain little weakling in mute determined conflict 
with the beautiful radiant girl. Jutta’s almost passion- 
ate desire to win the affection of the high-born child was 
powerless before the cold unmoved gaze of those clear 
hazel eyes, — and if she ventured to lay her soft hand ca- 
ressingly upon the child’s smooth hair, the little head 
slipped instantly away, and the colourless locks were 
shaken most energetically, as if to remove every trace 
of the unbidden touch. 

Frau von Herbeck ignored these ‘ peculiarities ’ of the 
^little angel’ in her smiling fashion, always refusing to 
accord any attention to what was disagreeable and in- 
corrigible ; but she privately assured Jutta that the 
child’s conduct resulted from that ‘thick-headed Voldern 
obstinacy,’ that had sometimes even possessed her sainted 
grandmamma, rendering her quite outrageous at times. 

J utta occupied two prettily furnished rooms at the end 
)f the long suite appropriated to the governess and her 
charge. The individuality of the last von Zweiflingen 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


97 


developed fully in this aristocratic atmosphere, like the 
flower of a plant suddenly transplanted to its native 
soil and air. The table loaded with plate, the servants 
obsequiously attendant upon every wish, the drives in 
the country around, leaning back upon the silken cushions 
of the spacious carriage, — all these, which were hers of 
right, as the descendant of nobility, she had hitherto been 
obliged to forego. The forest-house lay locked up, hidden 
in its retirement, beneath the ice-laden boughs of the 
thicket, — behind its bolts and bars, in the dim damp 
room in the tower, the old brown woollen gown lay 
mouldering away, and with it all the memories of those 
last weary years, — the young lady repulsed them like 
beggars, when they arose before her in contrast with the 
present. And she had as easily and quickly satisfied her 
mind concerning that final mysterious interview between 
the Minister and her mother. She had on that evening 
stood by the side of the object of that passionate out- 
burst of anger, and she was readily convinced that her 
mother, goaded almost to madness by fearful physical 
suffering, and deluded by the malicious misrepresenta- 
tions of others, had done the Minister gross injustice. 
Her conviction was for the present undisturbed. True, 
the overseer had been terrified at first at Jutta’s incon- 
siderate step ; but the evil was done, and could not be 
altered without a scene. He could not even reproach 
her with want of consideration, for she had never been 
initiated into the history of her parents. He knew nothing 
of the scene that had taken place just before Frau von 
Zweiflingen’s death ; Jutta, the sole witness of that 
scene, had never mentioned it to him. During the first 
days of her stay at the White Castle the overseer could 
have no personal intercourse with her. In the terrible ^ 
<{risis of Berthold’s disease, which had set in upon , 
G 9 


98 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Ohristmas-eve, the youth’s strong healthy constitution 
had been victorious, — he had lived, but was passing 
through all the weary stages of recovery. During this 
time Jutta, by letter, argued eloquently to her lover the 
advisability, nay, even the necessity, of the step she had 
taken, — and he took great care not to disturb the unem- 
barrassed freedom of her intercourse, now unavoidable, 
with the governess and Gisela, by any untimely revela^ 
tions. Of late, when all possible danger of infection was 
over, he came often to Arnsberg. He did not, indeed, 
find his love longing to flee to his bosom, and there weep 
out her ‘deep tearless grief’ — she had mastered that 
alone. He had conducted, through the forest to the 
parsonage, a mute, apparently desponding nun-like form, — 
in the castle he found a woman of truly royal presence, — 
a being who had suddenly cast aside the last husk that 
had restrained the opening of the bud, and had gained in 
a night all that graceful self-possession that only comes 
with years of endeavour to many a shy sensitive girl. 

Jutta manifested an amount of intelligence and of that 
facility in conversation, which lend piquancy and grace 
to superficial gossip. And then, too, an entirely new 
and seductive smile was now always hovering upon her 
lips. It might well have surprised the overseer that he 
had never noticed these peculiarities before, or rather 
that he had not been the one to call them forth ; but 
his own sterling uprightness, his blind confidence in 
Jutta’s character and self-sacrificing affection, prevented 
his entertaining one suspicious thought. He innocently 
resigned himself to the new witchery of the moment, 
— and if the young girl seemed far more reserved now 
than formerly, and did not receive him with the same 
eager joy that had awaited his coming at the forest- 
house, the change was surely due solely to the novelty 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


99 


of her surroundings, and this conviction must have been 
shared by Frau von Herbeck, who took great pains to 
conceal the change in Jutta’s demeanour by a double 
amount of kindness and amiability — this ‘thoroughly 
worthy and charming’ Frau von Herbeck. 

Thus the winter passed away, — a colder and snowier 
winter than the Thuringian forest had known for many 
a year. The first flurry of white flakes, which the Neuen- 
feld pastor’s wife had greeted so cheerily, had been the 
forerunner of a fall of snow of immense depth. In the 
loftiest mountain regions especially, it snowed for months 
so persistently that the houses sank deeper in their v/hite 
graves day by day, until at last only their chimney-tops 
and wooden roofs were left here and there like a gray 
line upon the gleaming white ; while there was not even 
this trace left of the presence of smaller huts. The in 
mates of these last found egress and ingress through the 
chimney, and it sometimes happened that the lonely 
pedestrian, losing his way in a country where all land- 
marks had been obliterated, suddenly, to his horror, 
slipped into a deep, narrow hole, to recover himself upon 
a cottage hearth, surrounded by a circle of startled 
faces. 

It was warm enough in that nether darkness, which 
was only dimly illuminated by the crackling pine torch 
or the smoky oil lamp, — there was no need of fuel ; but 
the pot boiling upon the stove scarcely contained half 
the usual daily allowance of food, and often stood idle 
upon the dresser, while the buried household went 
hungry to bed. The store of potatoes, so carefully 
hoarded the previous autumn, was quickly consumed, 
and woe to the wretched dweller in the forest when 
the supply ceases. With him potatoes take the place 
of meat and bread ; he eats them roasted or baked, with 


Lof C. 


100 


COVNTESS GISELA. 


his thin, wretched coffee, that has nothing in common 
with the refreshing extract of the Mocha berry, except 
the name. Thus he subsists for months at a time, and 
the failure of a single hardest will conjure up before him 
the phantom of starvation. 

Now Easter bells were resounding through the 
whitened valleys, and, as if awaiting these first echoes 
of the spring, a melting south wind arose and swept 
above the snowy mountain-tops and the thousand-peaked 
pyramids of ice that the fir-trees lifted to the skies. 
After a winter of deep snow this is a moment big 
with fate for some of the valleys in the Thuringian 
forest. The water falls drip, drip, from the glittering 
icicles down upon the surface of snow, that, like a pol- 
ished shield, reflects defiantly, and, to all appearance, 
victoriously, the rays of the bright March sun, while 
deep down beneath this fair exterior thin arteries of 
water are already pulsing. Their noiseless oozing is 
gradually changed to trickling and dripping, then to 
thousands of tiny brooklets, that, like persistent gnomes, 
burrow down into the valleys. The drifts that had 
reached to the house-tops subside, their surface grown 
hard and icy bursts asunder, and, from the cliffs, gurgles 
and bubbles the subterranean, dirty yellow stream. Now 
bright daylight looks in through the windows of the cot- 
tage, but its inmates, their hearts throbbing with anxiety, 
see the foaming waterfall dashing down from the mount- 
ain. At first it flows into the little river that runs through 
the valley and peacefully turns the mill — in a short time 
the swollen waters bear along the narrow bed, in their 
headlong rush, fragments of rock and uprooted trees, 
while they still continue to rise steadily. 

The discoloured streams from the forest-crowned 
heights grow broader and more numerous, — the spring 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


101 


sun looks down upon them, carrying destruction in their 
course, and smilingly imprints more fervently his glow- 
ing kiss upon the landscape, — he must waken the flowers, 
— and what to him is human weal or woe? The ground 
can no longer absorb the melted snow, — it lies in deep 
water upon the pastures and meadow-land, the river 
overflows, — and now God have mercy! The horrified 
inhabitants of the low lands cry, “An inundation in the 
forest I ’’ as they see the wild tossing waters of the swollen 
river bearing upon their breast fragments of houses, and 
many a household utensil. 

The Neuenfeld tract was not so much exposed to these 
dangers, — it did not extend upwards to such dreary re- 
gions. Still, the little river that wound through the val- 
ley so gracefully, and flowed over the dam in summer so 
gently and innocently, grew in the spring to be a strong, 
treacherous stream, vieing with the swollen rivers of the 
highlands. It then often overflowed its banks, carrying 
away whatever mills, bridges, and fences it could reach. 

In the afternoon of the third day of the Easter holi- 
days the overseer was walking towards Castle Arnsberg, 
accompanied by the student. Berthold was entirely re- 
covered, and was to return to the university in a few 
days. He had hitherto persistently refused to be pre- 
sented to his brother’s betrothed. No one knew that this 
young ardent nature suffered pangs of the deadliest jeal- 
ousy, — that he entertained a species of hatred of the being 
who had bewitched and filled the soul of the grave 
brother whom he loved so idolatrously. Besides, his sus- 
picion was aroused by Jutta’s noble descent, — and this 
suspicion was nourished and fed by her removal to Castle 
Arnsberg. He divined an ally in Sievert, and although 
the old man — out of respect for the overseer, and prompted 
by the experience that all his warnings wera so much oil 

9 ^ 


102 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


npon flame — maintained an unbroken silence ; still there 
were moments when his suppressed resentment burst all 
bounds, and the student’s fear for his brother’s happiness 
increased, until it became a torturing dread. 

He now walked silently along by the side of the over- 
seer, who had at length determined to conquer what he 
supposed to be his brother’s boyish shyness, and had de- 
cided that the visit to Jutta must be made. 

If the contrast between the brothers had formerly been 
very remarkable, certainly now, when Berthold’s face and 
figure still retained very evident traces of his late illness, 
the contrast was in no degree lessened. His thin, sharply- 
cut features with their transparent pallor, and the large, 
dark, hollow eyes looked almost ghost-like, and the natty 
oil-skin cap that had rested so jauntily upon masses of 
splendid curls, now surmounted only thin scattered locks. 
In comparison with his brother’s faultless form the young 
man looked faded and almost ugly. 

In the bed of the river beside which their path lay for 
a short distance, a clay-coloured flood was foaming along. 
The bushes that fringed either bank had disappeared; 
only the boughs of some elastic willows emerged, tossed 
aloft by the billows. The water was rising from hour to 
hour. The overseer stopped for a moment upon the 
bridge which spanned the stream a short distance above 
the dam, and anxiously looked after the objects which 
were swimming along below with such swift velocity. As 
yet they were only trunks of trees and logs of wood, 
which were hurled against the piles of the bridge with 
such violence that the decaying old structure trembled in 
all its joints. 

What a different scene was presented to their eyes be- 
hind the old-fashioned grated gate of the garden of Castle 
Arnsberg I Wherever the snow had not yielded to the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


103 


intense rays of the sun, it had been removed by human 
agency. In the long linden alleys the pebbly gravel 
sparkled, dry and white ; the violet stars of the periwin- 
kle and the yellow crocus cups were peeping up from 
the dark earth, and the broad lawn was tinted with the 
first delicate green of the wakening grass. Behind the 
glass walls of the huge hot-houses flowers of every shape 
and hue were gleaming, from the dark-eyed violet to the 
beautiful, aristocratic, but soulless camellia. 

The overseer never noticed how his brother’s face grew 
dark as the White Castle appeared amid the leafless trees, 
— and yet it looked so hospitable. All the window-shut- 
ters were thrown back, doors leading out upon balconies 
stood wide open, and arm-chairs and tabourets had been 
pushed near them, while parrots and other gay tropical 
birds were sending shrill cries forth into the sunny air 
from the rings upon which they were swinging, or the 
closer confinement of their cages. 

In the court-yard, which, encircled by three wings of 
the castle, was separated by a black iron-grated door from 
the garden, all was lively bustle and activity. The Min- 
ister had arrived the day before, and was about to return 

to A , where a court-ball was to take place in the 

evening. Apparently the moment of departure was at 
hand, ostlers were dragging several vehicles out of the 
coach-houses, and running busily from one door to an- 
other. In strong contrast with all this hurry, two footmen 
were lounging in the doorway that led into the vestibule. 
Probably engaged in waiting at luncheon, each had a 
napkir upon his arm ; they had seized the opportunity 
afforded by the pause between two courses to bask in the 
sunlight. Leaning back against the frame of the door, 
they were lazily stretching their legs, clad in white stock- 
ings and knee-breeches. Neither considered it necessary 


104 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


to change his position, no, not even to move his feet, 
which almost barred the entrance, as the two young men 
stepped across the threshold. The student stared angrily 
at their stupid insolent faces, and by an impatient gesture 
settled his cap more firmly upon his head. 

They mounted the staircase, and at the end of a long 
corridor the overseer paused before a door and stood still, 
with his hand upon the latch. 

“No ; if things go on at this rate not one of us will 
stay I” said a female voice almost stifled with rage. “Ah, 
the sainted Countess should have seen it ! Sent away 
from table I Did any one ever hear the like 1 The little 
Countess Sturm sent away from table because she would 
not beg pardon, — and of whom, I should like to know ? 
Let me tell you, Charlotte, I knew very well that when 
she arrived on Christmas-eve, wrapped in my lady’s blue 
velvet cloak, it was because she didn’t own a cloak to her 
back I Why, one of us would have been ashamed to death 
to come so. Conceited thing ! While she lived with her 
mother she knew well enough what it was to be poor and 
hungry. Why Muller, the forester’s assistant, told me 
himself that he often pretended not to see that old Sievert 
took wood now and then from ” 

At this moment the overseer, his face flaming, flung 
open the door. Lena, the pretty waiting-maid of the lit- 
tle Countess, started in terror, and gave a loud shriek, in 
which she was ably seconded by her companion. Still 
the little maid had learned much in her intercourse with 
great people, and would far rather have suffered some 
loss of personal deference than of one iota of her repu- 
tation for dexterity in her vocation ; so she hastily con 
trolled herself. She gracefully laid one little hand, spark- 
ling with rings, upon her beating heart, and instantly 
stepped towards a door, and threw it invitingly open. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


105 


“Pray walk in immediately!’^ she said pleasantly to 
the overseer. “Fraulein von Zweiflingen is still at table 
with his Excellency, in the white drawing-room.” 

The young man stood by her in silence, but paused in 
astonishment upon the threshold ; the door was suffi- 
ciently wide open to afford the student, who was follow- 
ing him, a view of the interior of the apartment. Into 
this room the daylight, which lay so golden on mount- 
ain and valley outside, penetrated in emerald rays, — it 
came through shining green silk curtains. Old legends 
flood the bottom of the ocean with this strange atmosphere, 
— a poetic idea, which a luxurious fancy and refined taste 
had suggested in the decoration of this room. The glis- 
tening silk of the curtains and portieres hung rustling 
also upon the walls, and covered the swelling cushions 
of the shell-shaped arm-chairs and lounges, the frames of 
which were inlaid with mother-of-pearl. White marble 
figures of Naiads and sedge-crowned Tritons gleamed 
among the hangings on the walls ; the green light played 
hither and thither around their white limbs, like the 
gentle ripple of the waves of the ocean. Upon the floor 
there lay a dark Turkish carpet, depicting water-lilies 
and the long leaves of the bulrush ; bunches of coral and 
shells held back curtains . and portieres, and from the 
ceiling swung a lamp of white milky glass, shaped like a 
lotos-blossom. 

“Pray come in, Herr Overseer,” the waiting-maid re- 
peated, — her pleasant smile grew malicious in the extreme 

she seemed to delight in the young man’s amazement. 

“ It is Friiulein von Zweiflingen’s room, only a little 
altered, — his Excellency found yesterday that the moths 
had got into the woollen damask hangings here, and he 
had the furniture from the favourite apartment of the late 
Countess Yoldern removed hither.” 


106 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


The slender form of the guilty woman had once re- 
posed upon these cushions, — the magic of that green 
atmosphere had floated around her siren head, with its 
shining golden hair, and enticing eyes. 

The student glanced keenly at his brother’s face. Was 
it due solely to the effect of the light within the room 
that the overseer’s features looked so statuesque in their 
rigidity ? He mechanically crossed the threshold, and 
the student followed him. 


CHAPTER YII. 

At this moment a bell, rung violently, echoed through 
the passage outside. Lena, who had some articles of 
clothing on her arm, hastily pushed ^ast the young 
man and disappeared in a side chamber, the folding-doors 
of which stood wide open. 

Within, a childish voice rebuked the waiting-maid for 
her delay. Berthold heard those tones, — so imperious, 
yet withal so sweet — for the first time ; involuntarily he 
inclined his head to look. A long suite of rooms ter- 
minated in the boudoir in which he was. 

At the opposite door of the next apartment stood the 
little Countess, the creature around whose brow hovered 
the nimbus of a famous feudal name, and whose tiny feet 
were planted upon an opulent independent estate. Just 
above her little pale face hung a portiere of dark-purple 
plush, giving it an ugly yellow tone of colour ; she stood 
there utterly unattractive from head to foot, the only 
charm that she ever possessed was wanting at this mo- 
ment, for her brown eyes, usually so gentle, were now 
flashing with anger. 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


101 


She hastily took a cloak from Lena’s arm and threw 
it over her shoulders ; but she pushed aside the pretty 
rose-coloured hat which her maid offered her. 

“It’s the newest one!” Lena said coaxingly; “his 
Excellency, your papa, brought it for you yesterday.” 

“I will not have it,” said the child determinedly, and 
seized a little dark hood, which she put upon her head. 
Then she called puss, who was sleeping on a cushion by 
the stove, and took her in her arms. 

Below, a carriage thundered up to the door. The maid, 
who was already wrapped in a thick shawl, threw a hood 
upon her head, — all this looked like a hurried departure. 

Just as she was upon the point of going, Gisela first 
noticed the overseer, who had meanwhile entered the 
room. She nodded to him gently, as to an old acquaint- 
ance, but the lovely smile which he had sometimes seen 
never appeared upon the plain little face. 

“ I am going to drive to Greinsfeld,” she said defiantly. 
“ Greinsfeld belongs to me alone, grandmamma always 
told me. Papa wants to give Roxane to Fraulein von 
Zweiflingen.” 

“Who is Roxane?” asked the overseer, with a faint 
attempt at a smile. His usually sonorous voice sounded 
faint. 

“ Why, grandmamma’s riding-horse. Papa said to-day 
at table that Fraulein von Zweiflingen must learn to ride. 
Poor Roxane ! I love her dearly, and I will not have her 
tormented I and only look, papa has had all the sea-room 
brought up here, — ^grandmamma will be very, very angry 
in heaven 1” 

She walked angrily towards the door, but turned round 
once more. “ 1 have told papa that I cannot bear Frau* 
lein von Zweiflingen,” she said, tossing back her little 
head, with intense satisfaction io her tone “She is 


108 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


naughty to our people, and is always looking in the glass 
when she is giving me lessons. But papa was very angry. 
I must beg her pardon, for her face grew very red. I’ll 
take good care not to do that. It does not become me 
to beg, grandmamma always said.” 

She suddenly stopped, — the carriage that had been 
waiting below rolled off. Almost at the same moment 
a door at the extreme end of the long suite of rooms was 
opened, and although portieres and carpets muffled the 
sound, the approaching footsteps of a man could be 
heard. 

“ His Excellency, your papa I” whispered Lena. 

Gisela turned round. Any other child would, in a 
similar case, have shown alarm, for in important mo- 
ments the sensation of helplessness and dependence irre- 
sistibly overcomes the soul of the most obstinate child ; 
but this little orphan was conscious of her own independ- 
ence, — to arouse an aristocratic consciousness within 
her, they had crushed out all childlike submission. She 
hugged puss closely in her arms, and, stepping near the 
door, quietly awaited her stepfather. 

The overseer withdrew into the background of the 
boudoir. 

“ Arrogant race ! How well the little serpent already 
knows how to hiss I” muttered the student angrily, as he 
reluctantly took his place beside his brother. He would 
rather have turned his back instantly upon the White 
Castle and all that it contained. 

In the mean time the Minister had appeared. 

“Aha I actually ready for your journey, my little 
chick?” he asked; but any one who was familiar with 
his voice could hear that it was no longer as calm as 
usual, — he was evidently irritated. “ And so the Count- 
ess wishes to go to Greinsfeld? And you have been 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


109 


silly enough to uphold her in this folly he continued 
to the maid. 

“Your Excellency,” the girl replied, apologetically but 
firmly, “ the Countess has always given her own com- 
mands when she wishes to drive, and we have all been 
strictly forbidden to contradict her.” 

Entirely ignoring this excuse, the Minister pointed 
commandingly to the door, through which the maid in- 
stantly retreated ; then, without another word, he seized 
the cat and put it down upon its cushion, and as quickly 
took off the child’s cloak and hood, and threw them into 
the' nearest chair. In the mean time his face had regained 
its usual look of stony calm that made it impenetrable 
alike for friend or foe. Not the faintest ray of tender- 
ness beamed upon his little stepdaughter from beneath 
his drooping eyelids, although he passed his hand caress- 
ingly over her hair, — the child started as if stung by a 
tarantula. 

“ Be reasonable, Gisela I” he said with a warning 
menace. “ Do not force me to punish you seriously. 
You must be reconciled with Eraulein von Zweiflingen 
upon the spot. I must see it before I leave.” 

“No, papa, she can go to the parsonage again, or to 
the old blind woman in the forest, who was so 
angry ” 

The Minister, now really irritated, seized the thin, frail 
little figure, and shook it violently. It was the first time 
in her life that the child had been so treated. She did 
not scream, and her eyes were perfectly tearless ; but her 
face grew as white as chalk. 

“ Papa, you must not hurt me, grandmamma sees it,” 
she threatened, in a half-stifled voice. 

The overseer hastily put a stop to this painful scene 
10 


110 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


by approaching the door of the apartment and presenting 
himself before the Minister. There were few who could 
draw near to this man without awe, — he was accustomed 
to see before him downcast eyes and embarrassed coun- 
tenances, — and now there, on the threshold of the sea- 
room, stood unannounced that imposing, manly figure -- 
the lofty head, with its blonde curls standing out so boldly 
against the background of shining, rustling silk, — and 
the intruder had surprised the finished diplomat at a 
moment when his iron mask of aristocratic repose had 
slipped aside, — it was doubtless a sense of having lost 
command of himself that suffused the face of his Excel- 
lency with crimson, while a perfectly annihilating glance 
met the overseer’s serious, fearless gaze. All this passed 
in a moment. 

“ What, Overseer Eckhardt I How came you here ?” 
cried the Minister, thrusting the refractory little Countess 
into a chair with a grasp of iron. There was something 
positively insulting in the nonchalance and icy conde- 
scension of his tone as well as in his strongly-emphasized 
surprise at the unexpected presence of the young official 
in his Excellency’s castle. 

“ I am awaiting my betrothed,” replied the overseer, 
with no alteration in his bearing, which was certainly 
anything but humble. 

‘‘Ah, indeed, I forgot!” With these words the Min- 
ister passed his hand over his eyes and brow ; but the 
slender fingers did not suffice to conceal the dark glow 
that suddenly appeared upon his white face. He went 
to the window and drummed upon the panes, — when 
he turned carelessly round a few moments afterwards, 
his countenance was as bloodless and impenetrable as 
ever. 

“ If I remember rightly, you have made an attempt to 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


Ill 


see me upon each of my visits to Arnsberg,” he said. 
“ I suppose, that like other people, you have received for 
answer the information that 1 visit the White Castle solely 
and simply for the sake of seeing my child, and that all 
business is laid aside upon these days of relaxation. But 
as you happen to be here, and, — if you can say all that 

you have to say in ” Here he looked at his watch — 

“ in five minutes, — why, — you may speak. But come in 
here, it is impossible that I should grant you an audi- 
ence in Fraulein von Zweiflingen’s apartment.” 

This last remark was intended to be uttered with deli- 
cate irony ; but it could not have escaped an attentive 
ear that the tone and manner of the Minister betokened 
a feverish haste. 

He leaned against the low window-ledge, crossed one 
foot over the other, and folded his arms, while the over- 
seer entered the room and bowed. And though his 
Excellency was the personification in every gesture of 
supreme elegance and aristocratic refinement, — although 
the coronet, which was stamped visibly upon the panels 
of his carriages, embroidered upon his handkerchiefs, 
and cut upon his signet ring, hovered invisibly above 
his head, and every utterance of his pale lips, every wave 
of his hand, furnished matter of thought and fear for 
thousands, still he was not to be compared at this moment 
with the man confronting him. 

“ Your Excellency,” began the overseer, “I wished for 
an opportunity to say in words what I have repeatedly 
put into writing without any result ” 

The Minister stood erect, and interrupted him by ex- 
tending his hand. 

“Aha I you need trouble yourself no further I” he cried. 
“ I know now. You want higher wages for the labourers 
in the Neuenfeld foundry in consideration of the failure of 


112 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


the potato crop. Sir, you are enough to drive one mad 
with your eternal memorials, you and the Neuenfeld pas- 
tor I Do you imagine that we are made of money, and 
that we have nothing to do but to read your statements, 
and busy ourselves with prying into your wretched dens 
about here ? The wages shall not be raised a penny, — 
not a single penny 

lie walked to and fro several times. 

“ Besides,” he said, standing still, “ matters are not as 
bad as you and the rest of you would persuade us ; the 
people look very well.” 

‘‘ Most certainly, your Excellency,” replied the over- 
seer, and the fine flush which always betrayed emotion 
with him now suffused his cheeks. “Actual famine has 
not yet come upon us, — it is to ward it off that we peti- 
tion you, — if it once rages it will be too late ; dying men 
do not need bread. It would be unreasonable to require 
of the government that it should divine the first premo- 
nitions of every calamity ; it has, as your Excellency says, 
other matters to attend to ; that, I should suppose, was 
our business, — we who live among the people ” 

“Not at all! by no means, Herr Overseer I it is not 
your business I” the Minister interrupted hirn, raising 
his sleepy lids and measuring the young official with 
contemptuous eyes. “ Your business is to pay the people 
their weekly wages, nothing else ; whether they can live 
upon them or not is their affair. You are a servant in 
the Prince’s employ, and as such your sole and only duty 
is to guard your master’s interests ” 

“Which I do honestly, although perhaps in another 
sense than that meant by your Excellency,” replied the 
overseer firmly; he had grown pale, but he was quietly 
steadfast. “Every official, high or low, is servant to 
Prince and People alike, a mediating element between 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


113 


the two ; it is in his power in great measure to confirm 
the affection of the people for the reigning dynasty. I 
cannot serve our master more truly than by uniting soli- 
citude concerning the weal and woe of those few of his 
subjects amongst whom my lot is cast, by believing firmly 
that I am placed here to ’’ 

“ Exactly like the pious pastor of Neuenfeld 1” the Min- 
ister interrupted the speaker with a burst of derisive 
laughter. “ He is always dragging in his saintly reasons 
why he has been placed here 1 Yes, yes, these minis- 
ters of Heaven’s mercy imagine they can dabble in gov- 
ernmental affairs I But I am really curious to know 
whence the necessary funds are to come, for, I repeat it, 
we have absolutely no money for such projects. Shall his 
Highness relinquish his proposed pleasure trip in May ? 
Or do you wish that the court-ball this evening should be 
given up 

The overseer bit his lips, and involuntarily clenched 
his hand. The Minister’s contempt must have stirred 
the young man’s calm spirit to its very depths ; but 
although one could hear in his voice how tempestu- 
ously his heart was beating, he replied with perfect self- 
control. “ If our royal master knew the state of affairs 
here he would certainly relinquish his journey, for he is 
really generous. And for the honour of the ladies who 
wi ill appear at court this evening, I cannot but think that 
they would resign the pleasure of the dance for the sake 
of these starving wretches. Much might be difterent 
if ” 

“If it were not for me?” the Minister interrupted him, 
tapping the young man on the shoulder with a sardonic 
smile. “ Yes, yes, my friend ; I, too, do homage to the 
divine principle which even forbids trees to grow aloft. 
But enough I I am the last person to whom you should 
H 10* 


114 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


come with your sentimental plans for the benefit of the 
people, for I am most certainly not the servant of the 
people, — ^to use your own ingenious phrase. My sole and 
only vocation is to protect and increase the splendour of 
the present dynasty ; that is my aim, I know no other I” 

He walked to and fro again with his hands crossed be- 
hind him. The overseer had had previous interviews 
with this man, in ordinary intercourse. In spite of an 
impenetrable reserve, he frequently showed so much 
amiability that at times one forgot to see in him the 
evil genius of the country ; there must have previously 
been some extraordinary tumult in his soul which had 
forced his passion so unreservedly to the surface. 

“You are an incorrigible enthusiast; I know you I” 
he said, standing still. Strange ! his voice, but now so 
sharp, sounded kind. “With these so-styled humane 
views of yours, you must be very uncomfortable here, — 
1 see that clearly. AYith the best will in the world 

I cannot help you in the way you desire, but I will 

make you a proposal.’’ His eyelids fell; it was impos- 
sible to decipher a feature of his face, all was so rigid 
and immovable. “ It would be very easy for me to give 
you a brilliant position in England.” 

“ I thank your Excellency,” the young man interrupted 
him with icy coldness. “ When my father died he be- 
queathed me two legacies, one was the charge of my 

young brother, and the other was his ardent desire that 
I should one day obtain his post in the foundry here. He 
was a native of Neuenfeld, — a genuine Thuringian, — the 
effort of whose life it was to assist and elevate his poor 
country-people. And I share his views, your Excellency. 
I will live and suffer with them. I should not deserve to 
be his son if I could turn my back like a coward upon 
the misery that he bravely sought to overcome.” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


115 


“Well, well, do not excite yourself,” the Minister inter- 
rupted in his turn, extending his hand with an apparently 
soothing gesture, but in reality with cutting irony ; “ gc 
on suffering, if it gives you pleasure.” 

Those nearest of kin to the Minister might have trem 
bled at this moment, — that sudden flush, those ugly red 
spots upon his white forehead, were the certain heralds 
of a coming tempest, — but it did not burst forth. There 
was heard only the low rustle of silken robes approach- 
ing the saloon ; but at the soft sound the irritated man’s 
half-opened lips closed tight again, as if touched by an 
electric shock, — he turned his head towards the suite of 
rooms, and hastily and commandingly waved his hand to 
the overseer, in token of dismissal. But did the young 
official misunderstand the gesture, or did he choose. 
In defiance of etiquette, to prolong the audience? He 
only retreated as far as the door, where he remained 
standing with an expression of iron determination upon 
his pale face, while the Minister pushed aside the por- 
tiere. 

“ Why, my good Frau von Herbeck, did the time seem 
so long to you that you could not await my return?” 
his Excellency cried to the governess, who came hastily 
towards him, accompanied by Jutta. 

“ It was impossible for me to know that your Excel- 
lency meant to return to the drawing-room,” replied the 
lady, startled by the annoyance audible in the sharp 
tones of his voice. “The carriage is waiting.” 

At this moment a servant, who had followed the ladies, 
announced, with a low obeisance, that everything was 
ready for departure, 

“ Take out the horses and bring the carriage round 
again at six o’clock I” the Minister ordered. The startled 
servant vanished like a handful of chaff in a whirlwind. 


116 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


In the mean time little Gisela slipped down from her 
arm-chair, but not to escape the object of her childish 
hatred, who might enter the room now at any time. 
She had breathlessly followed every word exchanged be- 
tween the overseer and her stepfather, and her little de- 
fiant heart must have entirely forgotten its own grief and 
anger at sound of the words ‘famine,’ and ‘dying,’ for, 
without casting a glance towards the Minister and the 
ladies standing outside, she stepped up to the overseer 
and said, “Have the children at Neuenfeld really nothing 
to eat?” 

At the sound of these childish accents the Minister 
turned round, — doubtless he had supposed that his peti- 
tioner had left the room ; but there he stood, as perfectly 
confident and self-possessed as if the drawing-room of the 
little Countess Sturm and his Excellency’s castle were 
his own native soil, — which belonged to him of right. 

As the Minister turned he left free the door, upon the 
threshold of which Jutta stood. The moment appeared 
to have arrived when this young girl could think, without 
envy, of the shining satin in her mother’s portrait. She 
had laid aside her mourning for the first time. A lus- 
trous pearl-gray silk fell in heavy folds from her waist, 
but fitted close and smooth around the upper part of her 
form, — flooding her, as it were, with a silver light. 
Her hair was gathered back in shining waves be- 
hind her ears, and most artistically arranged in a large 
knot at the back of her head, whence one thick curl 
escaped, and contrasted with the dazzling whiteness 
of her throat. Those glorious dark masses seemed al 
most too heavy for the little head, which was inclined at 
this moment with the grace of the bending flower of the 
white narcissus. She held in her drooping, carelessly- 
clasped hands a gorgeous bouquet of hyacinths, — it looked 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


in 


as if her gaze were resting lovingly upon the fragrant 
blossoms, and not a trace of annoyance disfigured at the 
moment the lovely creature, upon whose head nature 
had again lavished that seductive charm that had made 
the now almost extinct race of von Zweiflingen even 
more dangerous than its knightly courage and far-famed 
prowess in arms. 

The little Countess’s question was unanswered, — the 
man to whom it had been addressed evidently did not 
know that the child was standing at his feet, gazing at 
him with inquiring, anxious, brown eyes. Jutta was just 
crossing the threshold, and she looked up and saw him ; 
she blushed all over her cheeks and brow beneath the 
fixed gaze that met her own. What change had come 
over him I He, the shy, retiring man, who refrained in 
Frau von Herbeck’s presence from even touching the 
hand of his betrothed, now advanced towards the young 
lady without one thought of the by-standers and with- 
out a word seized one of her hands, — her bouquet fell on 
the ground, — ^but he neither heeded it nor stooped to pick 
it up, — he only laid his right hand upon her head, in- 
clined it backwards, and looked gravely and searchingly 
into her eyes. 

If Frau von Herbeck’s gaze had not been fixed in 
speechless confusion upon the group, she would have 
been greatly terrified by the Minister’s look. For one 
moment it seemed as if he were about to leap like a tiger 
upon the insolent intruder and strike him to the earth 
with his clenched fist. Who would have dreamed that 
the eyes beneath those sleepy lids could so flash and 
gleam with unbridled passion ! And who would ever 
have thought that such a vivid expression of despair 
could sweep across that imperious marble face I 

Jutta’s head slipped lightlj from beneath the overseer’s 


118 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


hand ; she stooped hastily, picked up the bouquet, and 
buried her flushed face among the flowers, — she did not 
however succeed in releasing her hand; the overseer held 
it in an almost painful grasp, and drew her irresistibly 
towards him. She was obliged to follow him to the sea- 
room if she did not wish to cause a downright scene. 

At the door the young official turned and bowed calmly. 
The Minister’s glance glided away from him ; but this 
time the gracious wave of the hand was omitted. 

“ Do not forget, Friiulein von Zweiflingen, that I must 
hear that Nocturne of Chopin’s once more before I return 

to A 1” he called after them, — his voice rang'hoarsely, 

and he could not succeed in calling up a smile to his 
trembling lips. 

A profound courtesy was Jutta’s only answer; and 
while he, leading little Gisela by the hand, crossed the 
rooms to return to the lower story, she entered the green- 
room with the overseer, followed as by her shadow by 
Frau von Herbeck. 


CHAPTER YIII. 

And now for the first time the student confronted his 
brother’s betrothed. His careless, indolent attitude, the 
sharply-defined play of the muscles in his attenuated face, 
and his thin hair, made him old. Anger and resentment 
flashed in his hollow eyes, — from his position he had been 
an unseen witness and auditor of the conversation be- 
tween his brother and the Minister. Evidently, he made 
a very unpleasant impression upon Jutta, the more so, 
that he never betrayed, by the slightest sign, that he was 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


119 


struck by her appearance. She said scarcely a word to 
him, but gave him her finger-tips, which he touched coldly 
for a moment. 

As though wearied, or even bored, quite in the style 
of a high-bred thorough woman of the world, she dropped 
upon a lounge, that enchanting air of childlike embar- 
rassment, with which she had confronted the Minister, 
had vanished. With a wave of her hand, she invited 
the gentlemen to be seated. Frau von Herbeck seated 
herself beside her upon the lounge. That good lady, 
who neither faltered nor shrunk in her honourable office 
as guaraian of virtue, looked very much exhausted ; at 
sight of those flushed cheeks and swimming eyes, the 
student thought, disrespectfully enough, of certain silver- 
necked flasks which he had seen upon a buffet in the 
vestibule. 

She had bravely contended with and conquered her 
previous indignation and embarrassment, and imme- 
diately took the lead in the conversation, as Jutta, silent, 
and evidently out of humour, appeared absorbed in 
counting the bells of the hyacinths in her bouquet. She 
spoke of the swollen waters of the forest, of the possi- 
bility of an inundation, of her anxiety lest the water 
should rise to the steps of the White Castle, but not a 
word of the danger threatening the clay huts in the 
village. 

The overseer let her talk on for awhile, perhaps ho 
never even heard what she was saying, for his gaze was 
fastened upon the face of his betrothed — those drooping 
eyelids must be raised before long. It is said that a 
steady gaze will waken a sleeping child, owing to the 
mimosa-like sensitiveness of a pure childish soul I Was 
the childlike element utterly extinct in the soul of the 
girl sitting there apparently lost in a reverie, or was the 


120 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


electric spark wanting in the eyes of the man regarding 
her ? She never looked up, there was not the slightest 
change in a feature of her face. 

“ Jutta, I should very much like to hear that Nocturne 
of Chopin’s,” said the overseer suddenly, his full melo- 
dious voice breaking in upon one of the governess’s fluent 
phrases , 

Jutta started, — now the eyelashes were raised, and the 
eyes, larger than ever, stared at him with a mixture of 
terror and astonishment. But Erau von Herbeck was 
shocked, and ceased speaking, — had this man the incon- 
ceivable impertinence to suppose his presence would be 
allowed in his Excellency’s music-room ? 

“ Of course not here, where you have no instrument 
of your own,” he continued, with composure. “We will 
go to the parsonage.” 

“ To the parsonage ?” cried Frau von Herbeck, clasp- 
ing her hands. “ In Heaven’s name, how did such an 
idea enter your head, my good Herr Overseer? It is 
impossible for Friiulein von Zweiflingen to go to the par- 
sonage. Why, she has broken with the people there 
entirely.” 

“ I have never heard this before,” said the young man. 
“ What, broken with them because your agitated nerves 
could not bear the children’s noise ?” he asked, turning 
to Jutta. 

“ Well, yes, that was the principal cause,” she answered 
boldly. “ It makes me shudder even now, when I remem- 
ber Minchen and Radchen and Fritzchen, with their hob- 
nailed shoes and shrill voices, — my nervous headaches are 
the consequence of that horrible time. And besides, I 
cannot see why I should not tell you, I have a special 
dislike to the pastor’s wife herself. She is coarse and 
commonplace, and very domineering ; and, naturally, I 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


121 


have not the smallest desire to place myself under a gen- 
eral who will put a broom into my hand and banish me 
to the kitchen, while she represses every higher aspiration 
of my soul.” 

She sank back again and dropped her eyelids. Her 
dark hair lay against the green cushion, and there was 
something sphinx-like in the marble face, with the tightly- 
closed lips. 

“That is a hard and very — hasty sentence, Jutta!” 
said the overseer indignantly. “ I value the pastor’s 
wife very highly, and not only I, — she is beloved and 
respected in all the country round.” 

“ Ah, heavens 1 what can these peasants know about 
it I” ejaculated Frau von Herbeck, shrugging her 
shoulders. 

“Indeed, I must entreat you, Jutta, to rate the excel- 
lent character of that woman more highly,” he con- 
tinued, without heeding the governess’s impertinent ob- 
servation. “ Especially, as in future she will be almost 
the only person with whom in our retired home you can 
have daily intercourse.” 

Jutta’s head drooped still more ; she said not a word. 
Frau von Herbect cleared her throat and smoothed the 
corners of her pocket-handkerchief with the greatest 
diligence. 

“And now you will let me bring your hat and cloak, 
will you not?” asked the overseer rising. “The air with- 
out is delicious.” 

“And the roads swimming in water,” the governess 
completed the sentence. “Herr Overseer, I really 
cannot understand you. Are you determined to make 
Friiulein von Zweiflingen ill d tout prix ? I guard her 
carefully from every draught, and now you want her to 

11 


122 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


go out, and bring home wet feet, — whatever you say, 1 
cannot permit it.” 

The condescending amiable lady departed a little here 
from her usual role ; a cold watchful glance towards the 
overseer escaped her ; but this one glance assured her 
suddenly that the silent grave man whom she had 
thought so simple was not to be trifled with. 

“The forest-path along which my betrothed often came 
to meet me was almost always wet, — do you remember, 
Jutta ?” he said with a smile. 

. An expression of great annoyance appeared upon the 
blushing face of the young lady. Why should Frau von 
Herbeck be informed that the time had been when she 
had gone to meet her lover, through wind and storm, 
with all the feverish impatience of longing love ? 

“All this talk about nothing is useless,” she said 
harshly and coldly. “ I shall most certainly not go out 
to-day, least of all to the parsonage, — I tell you plainly, 
Theobald, I will never cross that threshold again.” 

For a moment the overseer was silent. He was still 
standing, with his hand resting upon the back of a chair ; 
the dark eyebrows, that in meeting gave such a melan- 
choly look to his handsome face, frowned gloomily. 

“ The little Countess Sturm returns to A in three 

weeks ?” he asked with such emphasis and decision as 
made a false or prevaricating reply simply impossible. 

The ladies looked at him with surprise, but neither 
contradicted him. 

“May I ask, Jutta, where you intend to remain when 
the White Castle is empty and deserted?” he asked fur- 
ther. 

A sudden silence ensued. There are moments that 
comprise within their short space a whole series of un- 
avoidable events ; a man feels their significance instinc- 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


123 


lively, — it is as if he were standing beneath the loose 
keystone of an arch, — the next concussion will throw it 
down, and the structure will crumble to p'ieces; — the first 
word spoken is this concussion. The overseer pronounced 
it, because an energetic grasp of the subject was what 
was indispensably necessary at this conjuncture. 

“ Until the time when I have the right to protect and 
cherish you in my own house,” — his voice grew veiled, 
and a ray of unspeakable happiness shot from his eyes, 
— “ until that time there is no other fitting abode for 
you than the parsonage.” 

And now Frau von Herbeck arose and leaned her 
plump white hands upon the table. 

“ What, would you seriously send Fraulein von Zwei- 
flingen back to that, — Heaven forgive me! — that den?” 
she cried. ‘‘Must this fresh young aspiring spirit be en- 
tirely stifled among those canting pietists ? It breaks my 
heart to think of such nobility of soul, — such inborn 
aristocracy of maidenhood, surrounded by the parsonage 
ducks and hens, and that brood of noisy rude children. 
Poor food, hard work, and for mental refreshment a 
chapter from the Bible, — is it possible that you could ac- 
tually desire such a charming position for a cultivated 
young lady of rank? Herr Overseer, you may love your 
betrothed very dearly, — I do not doubt that you do ; but, 
pra}^ forgive me, your love is wanting in delicacy or you 
could not possibly ignore so rudely something that exists 
in Jutta’s soul, — something that your socialists and demo- 
crats,with all their wisdom, can never sneer away, — some- 
thing that lives on in spite of everything, because it is 
actually divine in its origin. I mean the consciousness of 
lofty descent.” 

The student pushed back his chair and his clenched 
hand was raised, and would have descended with a loud 


124 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


blow upon the table if the overseer had not seized it and 
held it firm ; but in spite of his warning glance towards 
the young Hotspur, he himself evidently needed all the 
strength at his command to preserve his own usual calm 
self-control. 

‘‘And is this your conviction also, Jutta?” he asked 

ith emphasis. 

“ Heavens I how tragically you take everything !” she 
replied crossly. 

Her large dark eyes had rested for a moment with icy 
coldness upon the student, who had dared to bring his 
coarse student manners into this aristocratic castle. She 
then turned to the overseer. 

“You can hardly expect me to join in a hymn in 
honour of the house where I have passed such lonely 
wretched hours,” she continued. “And I beg you, Theo- 
bald, do not stand there looking so determined, — must it 
always be either this or that?” 

She motioned with her hand towards the chair. 

“Come, sit down a moment I” she said almost kindly. 
A smile hovered upon her lips, a cold fleeting smile, — but 
it was the first and only one to-day, — and it exercised its 
influence upon the young man. He sat down. 

“I know a way,” — she began. Frau von Herbeck, who 
had fallen back among her cushions again, after the 
speech that she had made, hastily laid her hand upon the 
young girl’s arm. 

“Not now, my love,” she said warningly with a look 
full of meaning. “ The Herr Overseer does not seem to 
me to be in a mood to-day to regard simply even such a 
plain matter as ” 

“ But, good Heavens ! it must be said some time,” 
cried Jutta, impatiently. “ Theobald, I have a proposal, 
a plan — or — call it what you will,” — proposals seemed to 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


125 


be floating in the air of the White Castle on this day, — 
“ in a word, the Princess offers me a place as lady-in- 
waiting in the court at A 

The moment had come when the stone was detaching 
itself, — it was poised, creaking, and tottering above the 
head of the betrayed man, — he had given it the first 
jostle with what he had said. 

He did not ask, “ Can you have the heart to part from 
me This question from his lips, in view of the well- 
considered plan of the young lady, would have been 
ridiculous sentimentality. At first he did not speak. 
Would that handsome, melancholy face, with the eyes 
cast upon the ground, forget itself to marble ? Around 
his temples an unaccustomed flush deepened and mounted 
as though the blood had been arrested in its circulation 
and was rushing dangerously towards the brain. At 
last, when, after an almost painful pause, he raised his 
eyes, it was evident that his soul had received a mortal 
wound. 

Does the Princess know that you are betrothed ?” he 
asked in a monotone, — and his dull gaze rested upon his 
love. 

“Not yet.’’ 

“And do you think that the betrothed of a plebeian 
overseer would be admitted as maid of honour to that 
formal court?” 

“We hope confidently that there will be an excep- 
tion m^de in this case in consideration of the ancient 
name of ‘ Zweiflingen,’” replied Frau von Herbeck 
hastily, in Jutta’s stead. “To be sure, these delicate 
affairs must be handled very, very gingerly; but leave 
all that to me, my good Herr Overseer. The roses come 
with time. For the first half year nothing need ever be 
known — and then ” 


11 * 


126 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


“ I pray you leave me alone with my lietrothed, 
madame,” the overseer interrupted her stream of expla- 
nations. 

She stared at him speechless. What, this man who 
was simply endured for an hour now and then in the 
White Castle, dared to ask her to leave a room which in 
fact belonged to her own apartments ? Why, his Ex- 
cellency the Minister scarcely allowed himself this short, 
cold tone, when he wished to be alone. To be sure, the 
boorish simplicity with which the request was blurted 
out was excessively amusing and ridiculous; but the 
lady could not call up a laugh in the presence of the 
grave demeanour and gloomy determination with which 
the young man arose and awaited her departure. 

She cast a side glance at Jutta, and the sight of that 
classic profile, with its lips closed in defiance, and the 
nostrils vibrating with scorn, while the whole bearing 
expressed cold, cruel determination, caused her to resign 
all thoughts of opposition. She arose with a disdainful 
smile, and rustled in all her majesty into the next room, 
looking neither to the right nor left, when the student 
went out into the corridor and closed the door behind 
him. 

Jutta arose and went to the deep recess of the win- 
dow, whither the overseer followed her. There they 
stood, in perfect physical beauty each worthy of tbe 
other. The green curtains hung close around them, cut- 
ting them off from the inmates of the castle and from all 
that was going on there. Some shoots of the large- 
leaved Scotch ivy dangled down from the walls, twining 
lovingly above their heads, and outside of the window 
lay the wide world rich in the smile of spring. The 
young trees were striking down new roots, and the 
flo\^ers, which would before long wave their lov^ely 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


12t 


heads in the sunlight, were planting their little feet 
firmly in the dark ground. Everything was taking root 
and clinging to its native soil that it might bloom and 
flourish joyfully and carelessly in the bright light, and 
here one human heart was separating itself from another, 
rending and tearing, in its efforts to be free, at the thou- 
sand fibres and barbed shoots that filled the depths of the 
other’s soul. 

“You are already in communication with the court 

at A ?” began the overseer, — a decisive question 

in which one could detect the thrill of anxious expec- 
tation. 

“Yes,” replied the young lady. She smoothed her 
rustling silken robe with her hands. “ The Princess sent 
me this, and besides this a large chestful of the finest 
ready-made linen, shawls, laces, etc. My dressing-room 
looks like a haberdasher’s shop. The Princess knows 
the state of my finances, and she would not like, on 
account of court gossip, to have me come pauvre to 
A .” 

She said all this carelessly, as though it were a matter 
of course ; while the overseer, speechless with terror and 
surprise, actually staggered. At last, even this man, 
usually so patient and so moderate, broke forth into 
righteous indignation and anger. 

“ Jutta, could you dare to play such a wretched farce 
with me ?” he asked in his exasperation. 

She measured him with a haughty stare from head to 
foot. “ It would seem that you wish to insult me,” she 
;5aid with a cold smile and a dangerous glitter in her 
eyes. “ Take care, Theobald, I am no longer the ignorant 
child who was once willing to be controlled by you, and 
i — an embittered mother.” 

He gazed for one moment, as though terrified, into the 


128 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


girlish face, glowing in demonic beauty, then passed his 
hand across his brow, and sighed profoundly. 

“Yes, you are right, — and I have been blind,” he mur- 
mured. “ You are, indeed, no longer the child who once 
laid her head voluntarily upon my breast, and said to 
me, ‘ I love you dearly, oh, so dearly I' ” He clenched 
his teeth. 

But the young girl, in angry confusion, plucked an 
ivy leaf and tore it into little pieces. The constant rustle 
of a silk dress penetrated to the recess where they stood 
— the governess was marching up and down close before 
the open door of the next room like a sentinel. 

“I cannot see,” said Jutta with flashing eyes, “whj 
you should think fit to remind me so coarsely of my duty. 
Show me how I have offended you.” 

“ On the spot, Jutta I There is no return from the 
Prince’s court to the overseer’s cot I” 

“ You say that, not 1 1” 

** Tes, I say that. If you should really return to me, 
my doors would be closed against you. I want no wife 
who has inhaled the atmosphere of a court. I want at 
my side the innocent, true pure nature that I once found 
in the forest-house ! Oh, what a fool I have been, a 
traitor to my promise to that poor blind mother! I 
should not have left you for a single hour in the White 
Castle ! You are already poisoned. That stuff in which 
you have so contentedly arrayed yourself has brushed 
the dew from your soul.” 

It was a crushing verdict, and he who uttered it with 
such serious indignation bore upon his brow all the 
lustre of spotless purity of heart. 

Prau von Herbeck, startled, rustled into the room, 

the man of strict principle is sometimes too much for 
frivolous natures, — he can sway even them j but Jutta 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


129 


motioned to her to retire, — she would go through with 
this alone : she needed no assistance. 

“Jutta, turn hack!” the overseer continued, and his 
deep voice trembled as he took her left hand in his and 
drew her towards him. 

“ Never ! 1 would not make myself so ridiculous.” 

He dropped her little cold hand, which was clenched 
involuntarily. 

“ Indeed 1 Then it only remains for me to ask to whose 
intercession you owe your brilliant prospects ?” 

She looked up at him mistrustingly ; there was some- 
thing terrible in his rigid repose. 

“ My friend, Frau von Herbeck ” she began, with 

hesitation. 

“ Those acquainted with court matters know perfectly 
well that no creature of the Minister’s has any direct in- 
fluence,” said he briefly, interrupting her evasive reply. 

The governess at her post as spy started as though 
stung by an adder. 

“ Jutta, J, personally, have not a word more to say, — . 
you are nothing now to me. All that is over,” he con- 
tinued, more loudly. “ But I must speak in the name of 
your dead mother. Go where you will, your noble descent 
will procure you admission to any court that you may 
select. Only do not stay here, — you must not receive 
bounties and favours at the hands of him whom your un- 
happy mother cursed. Jutta, that man, the Minister ” 

“Ah, now comes your revenge!” the girl interrupted 
him, with a wild laugh. She fled from the recess of the 
window into the room. “ Scorn him as much as you 
choose,” she cried, frantic with passion. “ Call him 
murderer — devil! Though the whole world should 
swear it, I will believe nothing — nothing — I will not 
hear it !” 

I 


130 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


She stopp^^d her ears closely with her hands. 

The young man’s pallid lips closed at the sight as 
though they were to be mute forever. He slowly took 
off his betrothal ring and held it out. She hastily felt 
for her own, and then, — for the first time during the entire 
scene, — she blushed deeply with shame. That then was 
why her delicate right hand had held the heavy bouquet 
so long without fatigue, — the innocent flowers must hide 
the absence of the ring, — there, in the little mother-of- 
pearl cup, upon which her faithless glance now fell, lay 
the ring, — she had already taken it off. 

The overseer laughed drearily, and tottered towards 
the door, which the student opened at the same moment, 
while Frau von Herbeck hastened in from the next room, 
and tenderly embraced the “resolute girl.” 

“ The fool would have it so !” the young lady muttered 
defiantly, as she withdrew, rather impatiently, from the 
embrace, and, flinging herself upon the lounge, applied 
her smelling-salts. 


CHAPTER IX. 

The two brothers descended at once to the huge hall- 
door of the castle. It seemed as though the perfumed 
atmosphere of the long corridors and staircases were 
filled with treachery and lies. 

Below, at the open door of the music-saloon, the 
steward was giving directions to the servants, — the 
piano was to be moved. They could see the interior 
of the brilliant room. The purple silk curtains were 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


131 


closely drawn, — candelabra were already lighted upon 
the walls, a bright fire was burning in the chimney, and 
the servants were placing coffee upon a table; every- 
thing was done to make his Excellency’s music-room as 
comfortable and pleasant as possible. The Nocturne 
of Chopin would be played shortly, and, while they 
emptied the silver cake-basket and drank their coffee 
from the delicate porcelain cups, they could laugh at the 
insolence of the dismissed lover, who had presumed to 
expect to make good his claim to the hand of the future 
lady-in-waiting to the Princess of A . 

In an arm-chair near the fireplace lay little Gisela, 
her small feet negligently crossed, her colourless head 
nestled upon the bright embroidery of the cushioned 
arm of the chair. When she saw the two young men 
hastening towards the vestibule, she started up and 
slipped down upon the floor. She was evidently entirely 
without her attendants, for, just as the overseer was 
emerging upon the gravel-path, she stood beside him 
and touched his hand. Then she put her own into 
her pocket and drew forth a number of new copper 
coins. 

“ Oh take them !” she whispered breathlessly ; “ I kept 
them because they were pretty, — that is a great deal of 
money, isn’t it?” 

The overseer stopped mechanically ; the look that he 
cast upon the child was utterly bewildered, — ^^it seemed as 
though some desolating breath had suddenly blasted his 
blooming physical and mental nature. 

“Touch him not I” the student cried in an outbreak 
of passion, and pushed the child away, laughing bit- 
terly as the pieces of money fell from her frightened 
grasp and rolled away over the gravel. “Have you 
learned already, little viper,” he said, “how the high-born 


132 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


heal wouuds in others^ hearts? With money, ^ith 
money. But what is there high-born about you, you 
poor ugly little creature ?” 

His strong youthful accents were heard alarmingly 
loud in the vestibule, whose walls usually echoed only to 
the gliding feet and hushed whispers of servants. The 
servants and the steward stretched their necks out of 
the music-room, and Lena appeared in the background. 
She clasped her hands when she saw the little Count- 
ess standing in the open air without any hood or cloak 
and looking frightened ; and when in addition she 
heard the bitter words of the student, she ran and 
snatched the child away from the vicinity of the ‘ inso- 
lent fellows.^ 

Just then a hand drew back the curtains of the win- 
dow of a room on the ground-floor, and the pale face 
of the Minister appeared behind the panes. At sight of 
him the feverish spots on the student’s cheeks became a 
crimson flush. He stepped close to the window, the 
Minister retreated in evident agitation, but he quickly 
recovered himself, — the young man had no weapon in his 
lifted hand. 

“ Yes, yes, look on and rejoice I” cried the student in 
clear ringing tones. “The miserable woman up-stairs has 
finished her task, the plebeian is departing. Go on ! go 
on I Ignore the famine in the land ! Banish all genius 
from your schools, — then reign in peace! What indeed 
have you to do with German genius and German misery, 
yoi foreign upstart!” The head of the Minister van- 
ished and the curtains closed again; while the sound of 
a bell rang through the vestibule. 

Whether the servants received orders to turn off the 
traveller was never known. The overseer had already 
thrown his arm around his ^u’other and drawn him away ; 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


133 


and the tall athletic figure of the man, who turned his 
pale face with its calm rigid features once more towards 
the castle, was well fitted to command respect. The 
men hesitated and stood still, while the brothers passed 
through the castle garden. 

A soft gray twilight was already hovering above the 
earth. The sunlight, which had been so vigorously 
knocking at the tender buds upon the trees, at the sleep- 
ing chambers of the seeds, and at the torpid souls of 
men, had faded; only upon the mountain-tops, behind 
which it had sunk to rest, — an orange-coloured glow yet 
lingered. It had suddenly grown cool, — the glass of the 
hot-houses was covered with matting, and from the chim- 
neys in Neuenfeld a comfortable smoke was rising. 

Was the overseer unconscious that he took an opposite 
direction when he issued from the grated gate of the 
White Castle ? There lay his cottage with its cosy, pleas- 
ant room. At that very moment Sievert was doubtless 
putting log after log into the huge stove, throwing fra- 
grant juniper berries upon the hot tiles, arranging the 
table as carefully as for his former aristocratic masters, 
and drawing the curtains close. There lay the shelter- 
ing asylum, the home, — but the owner was wandering 
away through the pathless wilderness. 

The student anxiously seized his brother’s hand, — he 
met his gaze, and his hand was held fast in a firm press- 
ure, — he knew now that mental suffering was driving the 
silent man onwards. Without a word he walked beside 
him, — and on they went across the meadows all flooded 
with water, where the marshy soil yielded to every foot- 
step, through the alder-bushes that grew thickly in the 
low land ; — and where the mountain stretched out its 
steep flank covered with firs, the silent wanderers began 
to ascend. Of what avail is it that the stag, mortally 

12 


134 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


wounded, flies to the desert? He carries the fatal lead 
with him across hill and dale. And the man who was 
climbing that mountain height in breathless flight bore 
the burden of his misery with him, — he could not escape 
from it, — he left none of it behind in the marshy valley. 
In the lonely wilderness the grief that he locked up be- 
hind his silent lips cried more loudly than ever, like the 
bird of prey whose scream echoes far louder among 
frightful abysses and cliffs. 

Dark-coloured streams were flowing over the ground, 
covered with the needles of the fir, and making the steep 
path slippery and dangerous. It was quite dark beneath 
the firs that stretched their damp dark boughs blackly 
against the sky, — but here and there where the thicket 
was very close, strips of snow were still lying, taking a 
ghostly semblance in the darkness. 

The heavens hung above the mountain-tops like a 
steel-blue escutcheon upon which the promised ‘ Rest and 
peace ’ is blazoned. But for the human heart fleeing to 
those heights, heaven had been annihilated in the mo- 
ment of its betrayal. 

The overseer stepped forth upon the platform of the 
mountain, while the student, exhausted, leaned against a 
tree. In the valley below the darkness had already ob- 
literated all outlines, — some dim reflections still played 
upon the foaming river, whose dull roar was faintly audi- 
ble. Lights were twinkling in the village, — above the 
forge of the foundry the sky was illuminated by a lurid 
glow. And there lay the aristocratic pile, the White Cas- 
tle with its rows of gleaming windows. His Excellency 
had already departed for the court ball, triumph upon his 
pale face and beneath his sleepy eyelids ; — and in the sea- 
room, upon the cushioned lounge of the Countess Ydldern, 
perhaps at this very moment was Ijing the child of the 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


135 


blind woman in the glistening silk which was the first 
token of princely favour and dreaming of the next court 
ball, where the new maid of honour a brilliant star would 
first arise. The long row of ancestors in the forsaken 
forest-house, — the type of pride, of rank — which the 
pencil had preserved there, still lived in their latest de- 
scendant, — the old name would be heard at court once 
more. Race showed, in this latest descendant. She 
reproduced the characteristics of her ancestors. The 
world-old tragedy, for which that family had so long 
furnished actors, was again brought upon the stage. 
Aristocratic arrogance had betrayed love. 

And the victim, suddenly hurled down from the height 
of all his hopes, would perhaps have wandered over hill 
and dale the whole night through, wrestling to regain his 
lost peace, if the student, at last utterly worn out, had not 
seized his arm and begged him to return. Until then not 
a word had been exchanged between the wanderers, — 
they had descended the other side of the mountain only to 
climb again a steep wall of rock. Now they were stand- 
ing in a deep hollow through which the swollen river 
was dashing with a sound like thunder. 

The moon had risen ; her full orb hovered above the 
cleft, the white light tipping the black firs and hemlocks 
that grew thick among the huge upright masses of rock, 
and dancing upon the dark foaming waters. The bed 
of the river was filled to the brim, here and there the 
waves were already splashing over the meadow-land — 
a few more pulsing throbs in the mountains and the 
valley would be overflowed. Far below, from the vi- 
cinity of a low-lying hamlet some people approached. 
The men and women were carrying bedding, and the 
children were driving before them a couple of goats. 

'Twill be an ugly night, — the tvater is rising,” one of 


136 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


the men said to the overseer. The people were fleeing 
to more secure dwellings. 

This speech suddenly roused him from his reverie. 
He walked more quickly along the river ; his workmen 
in Neuenfeld were in danger. 

And then he saw what the insidious waters were* 
already carrying past, — there drifted a door, and among 
the floating logs of wood were mixed fragments of frame 
houses, and boards torn loose, — and the stream swelled 
and gurgled, and was greedy for more want and woe 
than it had yet caused. 

And above hung the moon, so sweet and silvern, 
smiling as pitilessly as those two dark girlish eyes in 
yonder castle, as they looked into the gulf which had 
swallowed up a crushed human heart. 

The Neuenfeld church-clock struck nine. The two 
men had wandered about for four hours, and were ap- 
proaching the bridge, — the student could scarcely stand 
for fatigue, — when Sievert suddenly appeared upon the 
other side. He raised his arms as though warning them 
away, and shouted loudly, but his words were drowned 
by the thundering rush of the water over the dam. 
While the overseer paused and listened attentively to 
his shout, the student impatiently stepped upon the 
bridge and strode forwards. 

Then the old soldier shrieked, — he made frantic ges- 
tures,and threw his arms around the railing of the bridge. 
There came a dull crash, — a huge fragment of wood 
borne along by the water struck the piles, — they broke, — 
quick as thought the eager waves swept and tore a\v ay 
the decaying frame-work, — and the figure of the student 
disappeared amidst the falling boards and planks. 

Instantly the overseer sprang after him. The young 
man, weakened by illness, was powerless against the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


13t 

whirling current. Even his brother, with his herculean 
strength, wrestled gasping with the flood, — twice he 
stretched out his hand in vain towards the drowning 
man, both were irresistibly driven nearer and nearer to 
the dam. At last the overseer succeeded in clutching 
his dress. But then came a fearful struggle : Berthold 
was not unconscious, but for the moment deprived of all 
reason, he did not recognize his saviour, but struck at 
him, and defended himself more furiously from his rescu- 
ing hand then from the raging waters. In spite of this 
terrible struggle, the overseer drew nearer and nearer 
to the other shore, — with a last exertion of strength he 
swung the body of the student upwards, Sievert seized 
it by the arms and drew it upon dry land. 

The bed of the river was very deep just at this spot, — 
the shore was still three feet above the surface of the 
water. The overseer’s last effort of strength which had 
saved his brother hurled himself back into the midst of 
the stream. And now the struggle began anew, and 
this time for his own life, — but — was the prize no longer 
worth the winning, or did all strength forsake him ? The 
young man suddenly vanished. Sievert ran hither and 
thither on the bank calling his name in accents of de- 
spair, — and once more a deadly pale face appeared high 
above the waters. The old soldier, as long as he lived, 
always swore that at that moment he saw the overseer 
smile and wave his hand. “ Farewell, Berthold I” came 
distinctly from the stream, — and then planks and frag- 
ments of the bridge went driving over the spot where 
had just sunk down so much youth, beauty, and a 
brave German heart. The old soldier gazed, stiffened 
with horror, — close by the dam a dark arm was tossed 
aloft, and then all was plunged into the depths below. 

The overseer was buried in the Neuenfeld church-yard, 
12 * 


138 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


by the side of the grave of the blind woman, — his bodj 
was found half a mile below Neuenfeld, hanging in the 
boughs of a willow. It was currently reported that the 
student also had been drowned, for no trace of him was 
seen or heard of after that terrible night — “ fortunately 
for him,” the servants at the White Castle said. They 
told, indignantly, of the terrible things the horrible dema- 
gogue had said to his Excellency, and it was clear that 
such a crime would have been visited by condign pun- 
ishment. 

A year after these occurrences, just at the time when 
the primroses and snow-drops were opening their inno- 
cent eyes upon the overseer’s grave, — a bridal pair Stood 

before the altar of the court chapel at A . The aisles 

were thronged with the noblest in the land, and many 
of the royal family were present. 

The bride’s lovely form was enveloped in spotless 
white, the magnificent lace over the glittering satin was 
white, the orange-blossoms in her dark hair were white, 
and her face, in the twilight of the chapel, shone like cold, 
pure marble ; but triumph gleamed in her eyes, — around 
her breathed no violetrlike aroma of the shy, girlish 
reserve that so becomes a bride, — she stood there no 
angel, — but the most beautiful woman that ever stretched 
out her hand eagerly for splendour and position. 

The bridegroom, covered with orders, was Baron 

Fleury, Prime Minister of A , and the bride was 

Jutta von Zweiflingen, lady-in-waiting to the Princess, 
“daughter of the noble Hans von Zweiflingen and of 
Adelgunde, nee von Olden.” 

“A spotless lineage, your Highness!” whispered the 
mistress of the robes to the Princess, with a smile of 
profound satisfaction, as she courtesied to the ground 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


139 


CHAPTER X 

Eleven years have elapsed since the death t)f the 
overseer. 

If, as a pious enthusiasm supposes, the immortal spirits 
of the departed are really destined to look down eter- 
nally from a state of inactive repose upon their earthly 
home, — certainly the heart of the drowned man, which 
had beaten so warmly for his needy fellow-countrymen, 
would have experienced profound content at the sight 
of the Neuenfeld valley. 

The White Castle, it is true, lay in the midst of its 
green lawns as unchanged as if it had been covered by a 
glass case during these eleven long years. The fountains 
leaped to the same point in the air, and their falling 
spray threw heaven’s light dancing in gold and silver 
sparkles upon the rippling surface of the basin. The 
groves, linden alleys, and velvet lawns never exceeded 
the artistic bounds that careful gardeners had set for 
them. The unfading hues of thefparrots glittered as 
of old upon the balconies, — the same old phrases were 
shrieked forth into the air, and in the castle people 
glided whisperingly about with soft footfalls and bowing 
servility, just as they had done eleven years before. 
Tb?y looked as though they had been all cast in the 
same mould, and upon their shining buttons was the 
coronet that stamped free-born men as property. 

And all this well-preserved magnificence was sur- 
rounded by the huge square of the castle wall, — white 
an il in perfect repair, it was a strongly-guarded spot of 


140 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


ground, conservative and as immovably riveted to its 
given forms as aristocratic principles themselves. 

But the new life outside the wall contrasted strongly 
with this accredited repose. There, all was fresh and 
strong, — with a roar as of gigantic deep-drawn breath, — 
the gray standards that were hung aloft fluttered bravely, 
even above the White Castle, — and within its charmed 
precincts, — industry had received a mighty impulse here 
among the quiet mountains. Six years previously the 
government had disposed of the foundry, — it fell into 
private hands, and instantly grew to dimensions hitherto 
undreamed of. With fabulous celerity, a colossal estab- 
lishment was erected in the Neuenfeld valley. The one 
chimney of the furnace of the foundry was now multi- 
plied to fourteen. A bronze foundry had been added to 
the iron works. In former times the productions of the 
establishment had been most primitive in kind, now it 
produced artistic specimens of bronze-castings. 

The huge collection of buildings, in which day and 
night there were constant hammering, casting, smelt- 
ing, and filing, occupied almost the entire space between 
the old foundry and the village of Neuenfeld, — the village 
itself could not have been recognized. The large factories, 
of course, required « multitude of hands ; and, as there 
had formerly been but few labourers in the small village, 
all the needy and unemployed men from the neighbour- 
ing hamlets had flocked hither ; and, as though touched 
by some magician’s wand, the appearance of misery and 
want that had before defaced this charming mountain 
district, vanished. One might almost have supposed 
that the new proprietor had had this effect solely in 
view, for the wages were very high, and every possible 
attention was paid to the comfort of the work-people; but 
the man was an entire stranger, a South American, who. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


141 


it was said, had never set foot upon European soil. He 
was invisible like a divinity behind a cloud, and was rep- 
resented by an agent, also an American. So any belief 
in an unusual amount of philanthropy in the matter fell 
to the ground, and the whole thing passed for a piece of 
new- world speculation, displaying great lack of acquaint- 
ance with German methods of proceeding. 

To this want of knowledge was ascribed the total dis- 
appearance of the Neuenfeld clay huts with their win- 
dows patched with paper and their miserable thatched 
roofs, — ‘ they had answered very well for those people, — 
not one of them had ever frozen to death.’ In their 
stead were now to be seen pretty two-storied cottages, 
with red-tiled roofs and painted walls, upon which were 
trained climbing roses and wild grape-vines, carefully 
tended, and hanging charming garlands around the win- 
dows. The spot of garden separating each house from 
its neighbour, and extending in front of each in a narrow 
strip, proved most plainly that taste and a sense of the 
beautiful are not by any means confined to people of 
culture, — in those oppressed by poverty they only sleep. 
These little garden-plats, formerly so waste and neglected, 
were now intersected by neat gravel-paths bordered by 
pinks or box. Fruit trees and beds of vegetables testi- 
fied to careful hands. Formerly, sunflowers only had 
lolled their large heads over the broken hedge ; now 
the borders were sown with lovely flowers, and the old 
bramble hedge had yielded to a neat picket fence. And 
the knotty lindens, which had stood by the old thatched 
roofs like faithful comrades through so much hunger and 
want, tapped merrily at the new shining window-panes, 
and overshadowed at their feet a neat greensward with 
groups of white garden chairs.- 

The invisible man in South America must be a perfect 


142 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Croesus, — as the simple Neuenfelders expressed it, ‘ much, 
much richer than their Prince,’ for he had built new 
houses not only for them, but also for his labourers in 
the neighbouring hamlets. The needful capital was re- 
tained in very small sums from their weekly wages, so 
that they found themselves in possession of healthy 
pretty homes, almost without knowing how they pro- 
cured them. The unseen benefactor had also founded a 
popular library, a savings bank, and several other be- 
nevolent institutions, and thus intelligence and progress 
came and made their abode in regions which, lying at the 
foot of the White Castle, belonged ‘of right and to the 
end of time’ to its ‘ accredited repose.’ 

Besides the foundry, the stranger had purchased the 
whole of the former Zweiflingen forest-land. Baron 
Fleury had been offered by him su-ch a fabulous price for 
it that it would have been folly to decline to sell it. This 
time the forest-house was included in the sale. One day 
the Zweiflingen ancestors and the stags’ heads were all 

carefully packed up and sent to A , where a special 

room was appropriated to them in the palace of the 
Minister. Then workmen renovated the old crumbling 
forest-house, for what purpose no one could divine. 
After the repairs were completed, the new locks and bolts 
were fastened and drawn, and the rooms were only now 
and then aired by the agent. 

The Minister seldom came to Arnsberg, and when he 
did so, people said he secretly drew close the curtains 
of the windows that looked towards Neuenfeld. He had 
not dreamed that when the foundry, then so poorly 
managed that it had become almost a burden to tho 
state, was sold that it would fall into such ‘ignorant 
hands.’ This model settlement cast scorn upon his 
system of government. The ruinous spirit of progress, 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


143 


which he would so gladly have anuihilated with fire 
and sword, was at work here beneath his very eyes. 

His Excellency held the reins as tightly as eleven 
years before, — although lately he had enlarged his policy ; 
he particularly patronized popular religious movements, 
and every Sunday, from various pulpits, blessings were 
invoked from heaven upon his wise enactments, his ‘ad- 
ministration so pleasing to God,’ and the wheels of state 
were so well oiled, the whole thing worked so smoothly, 
that the Prince could lay his head nightly upon his 
pillow without the shadow of a care, whilst his Minister 
could spend several months of relaxation abroad every 
year. Baron Fleury passed most of this time in Paris. 
The last scion of a noble emigrant family who had left 
France in the year 1794, he naturally had a strong ajBTec- 
tion for his old home, but there were other reasons, as 
he always candidly confessed, for this affection. It is 
true, he no longer possessed a foot of his family estates 
in France: they had been confiscated after the flight of 
their owners, and were irrevocably lost, in spite of the 
exertions of the father of the present Baron, who returned 
to his native country for the purpose of reclaiming them 
after the First Consul declared an amnesty ; but the 
refugee, after so long an absence, recovered most won 
drously all his ready money. The Fleurys had been 
obliged to leave their ancestral castle suddenly, — in the 
middle of the night, — to escape from an approaching mob 
of sans culottes and their own rebellious tenantry. Their 
wealth in ready money, accumulated with much care, 
and snugly packed in a hiding-place in the cellar, they 
were obliged of course to leave behind them. The savage 
horde destroyed the castle, but never discovered the 
hiding-place of the gold, which some time afterward a 
faithful old gardener found means to remove and secrete 


144 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


in his own h(>use, and when his former master stood 
gnashing his teeth at the iron-barred gate of the park, 
gazing at the newly-bnilt castle that was no longer 
his, there came to him an old half-childish man who 
sobbed and kissed his hand and led him to the cellar of a 
miserable dwelling, where stood a row of money chests, 
with not a sou wanting. This money had been invested 
well in France, as the Minister often casually mentioned, 
and this necessitated his frequent journeys to Paris. 

What a colossal property it must have been I The 
Minister lived in truly princely style, especially since 
his second marriage. The rents in Germany, considera- 
ble as they were, could be but ‘ a drop in the bucket,’ as 
the vulgar saying is. Of course this distant golden back- 
ground invested his Excellency with a peculiar glory ; it 
really almost seemed as if he continued to hold his high 
office solely out of regard for his most noble friend the 
Prince.. 

The White Castle, as we have said, saw its owners 
but seldom, and yet it was not utterly deserted. The 
young Countess Sturm occupied her estate of Greins- 
feld in the vicinity, and as she still retained her affec- 
tion for Arnsberg, often came hither for months at a 
time. The castle then seemed doubly inaccessible, for 
the young lady had been strictly educated in all the pre- 
judices of her class, and had besides been in very deli- 
cate health from her childhood, so that her young life 
was perforce passed in almost conventual seclusion. In 
her sixth year she had been attacked by a disease of the 
nerves in consequence of a violent fright. This illness 
soon assumed a serious character, returning with every 
slight mental agitation, and as the physicians had de- 
clared the child’s constitution to be feeble, the little 
Countess Sturm was, in the eyes of the wond, already 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


145 


numbered among the dead, and the Minister was silently 
congratulated ; for he was her sole heir. 

In accordance with medical advice, the child was 
brought to the mountain air of Greinsfeld. They sur 
rounded her with all the comfort and splendour that 
belonged to her rank, but she lived in a perfect retire- 
ment, shared only by Frau von Herbeck, a physician, 

and lately by a chaplain. To the inhabitants of A 

the departure from their town of the young doomed 
creature was a virtual death, and the villagers of Arns- 
berg and Greinsfeld saw but seldom the little pale 
face, — either behind the glass windows of the car- 
riage as it rolled swiftly along, or now and then when 
they contrived to slip shyly through the forbidden 
grounds of the castle. They never even had the pleas- 
ure of seeing their invalid liege lady in church, for as the 
child of Roman Catholic parents, she was educated in 
the Romish faith, and never entered a Protestan^t 
place of worship. 

Thus one year after another passed^ by, each only 
a respite, according to all human calculation, for the 
withering human flower. Wise doctors had laid their 
heads together and pronounced a prognosis in opposi- 
tion to which Heaven was of no avail, — yet from the 
predicted decay and death there suddenly bloomed a lily 
which- looked smilingly forth into the sunny face of ex- 
istence. 

Just between the boundaries of the former Zweiflingen 
and the Arnsberg estates, there was a pretty little lake. 
It belonged to the domain of the White Castle, but the 
beeches that shadowed its western shore were outposts 
of the neighbouring property. 

A hot July sun was burning directly overhead, the 
centre of the lake was smooth as a golden tablet, only 
K 13 


146 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


now and then gentle ripples from the shore inscribed 
strange characters upon the water, — perhaps a poem of 
the forest. That part however which was shared by the 
drooping boughs of the oaks and beeches was as dark 
and mysterious as the forest itself. And upon this 
greenly glimmering path a little boat was gliding. The 
oar projected far into the light transparent water, and as 
it dipped left behind it a narrow glittering furrow, — 
sometimes it vanished, and then the boat turned and 
moved towards the shore. 

A girl sat by the oar, and upon the narrow bench op- 
posite her were perched three children, two boys and a 
lovely little fair-haired girl. The children were singing 
loudly and clearly, — 

Then let me serve forever, 

With all my heart and hand, 

The land I love so dearly, 

My German fatherland. 

The boat was quiet, it did not rock, and the song 
sounded sweetly across the lake and among the solemn 
forest trees. 

The girl at the oar listened silently. Behind her a 
moss-grown path intersected the thicket in a gentle as- 
cent, and there the wood opened in its green depths. 
A ray of the golden day outside fell upon the group of 
children, the blonde hair of the little girl shone brightly, 
and the boys, whose faces were turned towards the water, 
shaded Ibeir eyes with their hands. But the young 
rower sat entirely in the green twilight ; one pale quiver- 
ing golden ray fell across her knees like the richly em- 
broidered hem of a tunic, and around her pearly-white 
forehead circled dreamily a blue glittering spark, — a flut- 
tering dragonfly. 

The children stopped and listened breathlessly for the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


147 


echo, which was, however, so unkind, or perhaps so poli- 
tic, that it refused to respond to ‘ German fatherland.' 

Just then a gentleman with two ladies appeared upon 
the other side of the lake. He shrugged his shoulders 
in a provoked and disappointed manner as his gaze 
swept the surface of the water. A footman who had 
attended the party stepped forward respectfully, and 
pointed to the boat beneath the boughs. 

“ Gisela I” the gentleman cried across the water. 

The girl at the oar was evidently startled, and a flush 
of embarrassment coloured her cheek. For one moment 
there was a doubtful expression in her brown eyes as 
she looked at the three children, — but only for a moment, 
— then she smiled. 

“ I cannot throw you all overboard, — that is certain !” 
she said. “ Then forwards, in Heaven’s name !” 

With two or three vigorous movements of the oar she 
put the skiff in motion ; it darted out into the lake, and 
the blazing sunlight streamed full upon the head of the 
rower. The wide open sleeves of her white dress flew 
back with every motion of the oar, the graceful bending 
figure came on skimming the water like a swan. Her 
hair, held lightly back from her brow and temples by a 
silken ribbon, streamed in rippling waves around her 
neck and shoulders, encircling her fair face with a quiv- 
ering glory. 

Her large brown eyes were now and then turned in- 
quiringly on the group upon the shore, but the blush 
of embarrassment had entirely vanished from her cheeks, 
the strokes of her oar were regular, not a trace of haste 
betrayed any anxiety upon her part to reach the land 
quickly. Perhaps this was taken amiss by the group 
upon the shore. The beautiful woman leaning upon the 
arm of the gentleman suddenly let her eye-glass fall 


148 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


from her (jyes with a mixture of surprise, impatience 
and displeasure. 

“Really, my child, this is a most remarkable situation 
in which we find you after our absence I” the gentleman 
called out sharply as the boat approached. “Good 
Heavens ! what noble passengers you have on board 1 I 
am afraid they will forget as easily as you do who is at 
the oar.” 

“ Dear papa, Gisela, Countess Sturm of Schuckenstein, 
Baroness of Gronegg, Lady of Greinstein, etc., etc., is 
rowing this boat,” answered the young girl. There was 
nothing arch or ironical in this reply ; it was an entirely 
serious answer to his reproof. The speaker was at this 
moment every inch the owner of the high-sounding 
titles. 

She turned the boat skilfully, it touched the land, and 
she easily sprang ashore. 

The child with the plain meagre face, colourless hair, 
and sickly sallow complexion, the frail little creature who 
had been sent into retirement to die, now stood there a 
full-grown girl, and whoever had seen the portrait of the 
Countess Ydldern, the most beautiful woman of her time, 
■ — that graceful figure, the fair face surrounded by those 
masses of waving hair, — might almost have believed it 
had stepped from its frame to roam the forest, a living 
presence. These modest, thoughtful eyes had not, in- 
deed, the demonic power of those black sparkling orbs, 
and the hair, which in the portrait shone yellow as am- 
ber, was here light chestnut only slightly streaked with 
gold upon the temples; but in general appearance the 
Countess Ydldern lived again in this youthful form that 
had come forth from long illness, like a fresh opening 
blossom from its dark leafy covering. 

But this change had not been shared by the soul 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


149 


There was the same clear, cold, pitiless glance against 
which all entreaty for affection was powerless, and her 
characteristic dislike of all familiar contact was strikingly 
evident at this moment ; she made a courteous and grace- 
ful inclination, but her arms hung by her side and her 
slender fingers were hidden in the folds of her muslin 
skirt : she had no hand to extend in greeting ; and yet 
his Excellency had just returned from a three months’ 
stay in Paris, and his beautiful wife had spent the win- 
ter and spring with the invalid Princess at Milan, so 
that she had not seen her stepdaughter for nine months. 

If the lady had already regarded the girl as she glided 
over the water with a certain strange surprise, she now 
stared for one instant at the tall slender figure before 
her with a kind of incredulous horror ; but this expres- 
sion vanished almost instantaneously. She dropped her 
husband’s arm and held out both hands to the young 
Countess. 

'‘Welcome, darling child!” she cried in gentle cordial 
tones. “ Here is mamma, and as you see always ready 
to 'reprove, eh ? But it makes me fairly tremble to think 
of your exerting yourself so much. Bo remember your 
weak chest.” 

“ My chest is not weak, mamma,” said the young girl 
as coldly as was possible to her musical childlike voice. 

“ But, dearest, do you pretend to know better than our 
excellent doctor ?” asked the lady shrugging her shoulders 
with a slight smile. “ I would not for the world disturb 
your belief, but we must pay attention to the physician’s 
directions, or you will over-exert yourself. I assure you, 
I was terribly alarmed to see you upon the water, — why, 
my child, with your nerves in such a state of irritation 
that you cannot hold your arm still for one rAoment, how 
could you venture to use it in rowing a boat ?” 

13 * 


150 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


The young Countess made no reply. She slowly 
raised her arms, extended them and stood motionless, 
and in spite of the delicate hue of her complexion and 
her slender figure she looked at this moment the personi- 
fication of youthful health and strength. 

“ Judge for yourself, mamma, whether my arm trem 
bles,’^ she said, throwing back her head with a kind of 
delighted pride. “ I am perfectly well I” 

There was nothing to be said at the moment in contra- 
diction to this statement. The Baroness glanced aside 
as if the experiment frightened her, and the Minister 
from beneath his drooping eyelids looked with a strange, 
secretly observant air at the arms, rosy to the finger-tips 
and smooth as polished marble, which were stretched 
from out the hanging sleeves. 

“ Do not make such an effort, my child,” he said, taking 
her right hand and bending it down again. “ It is en- 
tirely unnecessary ; you must permit me still to place 
some confidence in the opinion of your physician, and it - 
differs somewhat from your own. I did not, however, 
feel the anxiety which your mamma experienced in seeing 
you on the water. I confess to you that your free and 
independent fashion of leaving the house and roaming 
in the forest surprises me in a Countess Sturm. I can- 
not be as strict with you as I ought — I ascribe these 
tastes to your invalid condition. But, Frau von Her- 
beck,” and he turned to that lady who was present, “you 
] cannot understand. The Countess seems to me unpar 
donably neglected, — where are your eyes and ears ?” 

Who would have recognized the former graceful 
governess in the clumsy fat figure that now, crimson 
with embarrassment, confronted the Minister ? 

“ Your Excellency has shown great dissatisfaction with 
me during our walk,” she began in an offended exculpa- 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


151 


tory tone. “ I hope the Countess will now declare the 
truth and confirm my assertion that I watch over her 
welfare, physical and mental, like an Argus; but, alasl a 
thousand eyes are not enough. We were sitting an hour 
ago in the Pavilion, and the Countess had a glass of 
flowers before her to paint from, when suddenly she 
arose and ran without hat or gloves into the garden. 
I sat still, fully believing that she only wanted a few 
flowers.” 

“ Yes, that is just what I wanted, Frau von Herbeck,” 
the young Countess interrupted with a quiet smile ; “but 
I wished for wild flowers.” 

“ Good Heavens, child I I really believe you are growing 
sentimental ! Pray let us avoid that I” cried the Minister, 
chidingly; in the last twelve years of his diplomatic 
career his voice had gained considerably in asperity. 
“ Here we have the reason why I have persisted in de- 
priving you of those miserable fairy-books, and yet I 
find you filled with this enthusiasm for the forest. Do 
you not know that it makes a young girl of your rank 
very ridiculous in the eyes of sensible people to go wan- 
dering about alone in the woods like a peasant girl, and 
actually to take the oars into your hands ?” 

“ To row a couple of labourers’ children across the 
lake,” the angry governess concluded the sentence. “ My 
dear Countess, I cannot conceive how you can so forget 
yourself!” 

Hitherto Gisela’s eyes had rested passively, but with 
the thoughtful inquiring expression so peculiar to them, 
upon her stepfather’s face. The evident irritation of the 
man who, with a single exception, had always shown her 
such boundless consideration, surprised her far more than 
this reproof annoyed her. But at the governess’s remark 
her mouth grew scornful. 


152 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


“Frau von Herbeck,” she said, “let me remind you of 
what you call ‘the guide of your life,’ — the Bible. Was 
it only nobly-born children that Christ suffered to come 
to him 

The Minister turned his head, and stared his step- 
daughter in the face for a moment without a word. This 
young creature who, out of ‘regard for her delicate state 
of health,’ had been allowed to grow up in ignorance and 
mental inactivity, who had inhaled aristocratic prejudices 
and opinions with the very air that she breathed, this 
tenderly guarded scion of nobility, suddenly showed a 
logic fatally like the declamation of some disreputable 
free-thinker I 

“What nonsense are you talking, Gisela?” he ex- 
claimed. “ It will always be the great misfortune of 
your life that your grandmother died while you were so 
young. There is a downward tendency in you, and 
she, model that she was of aristocratic dignity and 
womanly worth” — the Baroness cleared her throat and 
pushed a stone into the water with the polished toe of 
her little boot — “ Yes, she would have destroyed every 
trace of this tendency in your nature. In her name I 
forbid you ever conducting yourself in future in a man- 
ner so unbecoming your rank.” 

The innocent mind of the girl still revered the image 
of her grandmother; her intellect, so prone to inquire, 
had left this memory untouched. She was very proud 
of her descent. Because her grandmother had practised 
it, she persisted in a kind of feudal severity towards her 
dependents, in the firm conviction that such a course 
must be right. It had been pursued by the ‘ Lady 
Countess Ybldern,’ who would of course have prescribed 
it for her grandchild. 

“As you please,” she replied, hovering between sub* 


COUNTESS gisela: 


153 


mission and obstinate contradiction. “ If it is really not 
fitting for me, it shall not happen again. But they were 
not labourers’ children. The little girl belongs at the 
parsonage ” 

A shriek interrupted her. One of the boys had rowed 
the skiflf farther on, and pushed it in shore to an awk- 
ward spot for landing. The little girl, in getting out, 
fell into the water, — the fair head was just sinking below 
the surface when a gigantic Newfoundland dog came 
rushing through the thicket, just behind the group on 
the shore, and plunged into the lake. He seized the 
child, and swimming to land with her, laid her at the 
feet of a gentleman, who came out from the forest. 

The little fair-haired thing was a brave, good child, 
and, never losing her presence of mind for a moment, 
she got up instantly and wiped the water from her eyes. 

“Oh dear! oh dear! my new blue apron!” she said, 
wringing the dripping garment with her hands. “ What 
will mamma say ?” 

Gisela sprang towards her, drawing with trembling 
hands a kerchief from her pocket, to throw it over the 
child’s wet shoulders. 

“ That will do no good,” said the gentleman. “ But I 
beg you to remember for the future that every human 
life must be protected when we voluntarily take charge 
of it. It may possess no more value than a plaything 
to the Countess Sturm, but it has parents who would 
bitterly bewail its loss.” He took the drenched child 
in his arms, touched his hat, and departed, while the 
dog sprang around him barking with delight. 

The kerchief fell from the hands of the young Count- 
ess, — she had listened to the stern reproof with startled 
eyes and blanched lips, and now she looked after the 
stranger without a word, until he was lost to view in the 
forest. 


151 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


CHAPTER XL 

Neither the Minister nor the ladies with him had 
approached the spot where the accident occurred, — the 
ladies had indeed drawn aside their skirts and retreated 
a few paces as the dripping dog rushed past them bark- 
ing joyously, — disaster and rescue had occupied only a 
few seconds. 

“Do you know that gentleman?” the Baroness said, 
turning quickly to the governess, and dropping her eye- 
glass, after she had attentively observed every movement 
of the retreating stranger. 

“ Yes ? who is he ?” inquired the Minister. 

“Did your Excellency observe him narrowly?” asked 
Frau von Herbeck in her turn. “ Yes, that is he, — the 
Brazilian nabob, the proprietor of the foundry, — ^the 
clown who ignores the very existence of the White 
Castle. I cannot understand how the Countess can 
bring herself to go near him, and I will wager my little 
finger that he said something rude to her, — his manner 
was so discourteous.” 

The Baroness stepped towards Gisela, who was return- 
ing with downcast eyes. “Did the man insult you?” 
she asked gently, but with a searching look. 

“ No,” Gisela answered hastily, and although her face 
flushed to her temples with maidenly shame, her eyes 
expressed that haughty reserve which at certain moments 
she interposed like a screen before her soul. 

Meanwhile the Miniiiter and Frau von Herbeck en- 
tered the forest. His Excellency crossed his hands 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


155 


behind his back, and bis head drooped upon his chesty — 
his usual attitude when receiving auy statement. Thers 
was still much elegance and elasticity in his bearing, but 
his hair and beard were very gray ; and now, when he 
forgot himself in listening, the muscles of his cheeks 
looked sunken, and gave to a countenance undeniably 
intellectual a haggard expression. His Excellency had 
grown old. 

“Not that I” — cried Frau von Herbeck, snapping her 
fingers in the air, — “ not that, does the man care for 
us. He came here about six weeks ago, as though 
dropped from the skies. I was taking my morning walk 
and passed by the forest-house, — windows were open, 
chimneys smoking, and a man from Neuenfeld who 
passed, told me the ‘gentleman from America had ar- 
rived 1’ I have always regretted extremely, your Excel- 
lency, that the foundry should fall into such hands, — 
you could not believe the change that has taken place in 
the people I Their new houses and their library have 
turned their heads, so that they no longer know the dif- 
ference between high and low. The surest sign is their 
manner of saluting us, — they nod their heads and stare 
so that I can hardly bring myself to acknowledge their 
salute. All this has, I repeat, made my residence at 
Arnsberg very disagreeable, but since the arrival of this 
Herr Oliveira I have been too much annoyed ” 

“Is he a Portuguese?’’ interrupted the Baroness, who 
was following with Gisela. 

“ They say so, and from his intolerable arrogance 
it seems probable that he is a member of some noble 
Portuguese family who emigrated to Brazil. His exte- 
rior also seems to justify such a supposition. Dislike 
him as I do, I cannot deny that he is exceedingly hand- 
some, — your Excellency could see that for yourself.” 


156 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


His Excellency did not reply, and the two ladies were 
also silent. 

“ He has the air of a grandee,’^ continued the govern- 
ess eagerly, “ and he sits his horse like a god ! — Oh 
she interrupted herself, “ how could such a comparison 
escape my lips I’’ She drew down the corners of her 
mouth as if leaden weights were attached to them, and 
her eyelids dropped remorsefully over her brimming 
eyes, — she was the very picture of penitence. 

“ Will you have the kindness to tell me what offence 
this Herr Oliveira has committed to provoke you so 
asked the Minister rather rudely and impatiently. 

“ Why, your Excellency, he is always trying to insult 
our Countess.” 

“ You provoked him to it 1” cried the young girl, step- 
ping forward with an angry blush, whilst the Minister 
stood still in amazement. 

“Oh, my dear Countess, how unjust ! Do I provoke 
him to ignore you whenever you drive past him ? The 
case is this,” — and she turned to the Minister and the 
Baroness : “ I heard that he wished to found an asylum 
in Neuenfeld for poor orphan children from the surround- 
ing country. In these times, your Excellency, one must 
have one’s eyes open and seize every opportunity that 
presents itself, — therefore I overcame my dislike, and my 
disgust at the present lawless conduct of affairs at Neu- 
enfeld, and enclosed eight louis d’ors in the Countess’s 
name, and five thalers from my own insignificant self, in 
an envelope, and sent them to the Portuguese as a con- 
tribution to the proposed asylum. Of course I added a 
few lines, in which I trusted that the institution would 
be founded upon rigid church principles, and offered to 
provide a matron for it. What was the result? The 
money was retnrnec^, with the announcement that the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


157 


desired funds were all complete, needing no audition, 
and that a matron was already provided in the person of 
the well-eiucated daughter of the Neuenfeld pastor, — it 
is too provoking I’’ 

“You have certainly conducted the affair with exceed- 
ing prudence, my good Frau von Herbeck,” said the Min- 
ister ironically, “if you continue your operations after 
this fashion: you will entice many a bird to your net. You 
should have let matters alone,” he added, in an outbreak 
of vexation. “ Remember for the future, I will not have 
hostility and opposition provoked and fostered so directly, 
— a gold fish, you must know, my good Frau von Her- 
beck, is not to be caught but with skilful angling.” 

“And what put it into your head,” cried the Baroness, 
measuring the disappointed governess with a haughty 
glance, — “what put it into your head, in direct opposition 
to your instructions, to bring forward the young Countess 
into public notice, and as it were to assign her a part 
most undesirable both to her and to us? Our poor sick 
child,” she added gently, “ whom we have hitherto 
guarded from every breath of air from the evil world 
outside! Now see, Gisela,^” she suddenly interrupted 
herself, and regarded her stepdaughter with an agitated 
countenance, “you are not by a great deal as well as 
you think yourself ! There it comes again, — that flutter- 
ing colour that alw^ays precedes one of your attacks 1” 

The young Countess did' not reply. It was easy to 
perceive that for one moment she struggled with violent 
irritation ; but she turned away with a shrug of her shoul- 
ders and walked on, seeming to say, “ I am much too 
proud to reiterate what I have once affirmed, — believe 
what you please.” 

For awhile all walked on in silence: Frau von Her- 
beck was quite crushed, — she lingered several paces 

14 


158 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


behind the Minister, and evidently avoided meeting his 
eye, which apparently was not expressive of the mildest 
humour. He stood still at the gate of the castle while 
the Baroness and Gisela entered ; then he looked back 
once more over his shoulder towards Neuenfeld with its 
red roofs shining in the sunlight, only one house rising 
above them, — the slated roof of the parsonage. 

The Minister pointed towards it, his pale lips parted 
in a cold smile, showing his white teeth. 

“We are rid of Mm,’’' he said. 

“ What, your Excellency, the pastor I” cried Frau von 
Herbeck in joyful surprise. 

“ He is pensioned — h’m — we only give the man an 
opportunity of proving how he can easiest obtain his 
bread, by the word or the works of God. The fellow 
has had the folly to give his astronomical learning to the 
world in a book, at this time of all others.” 

“ Heaven be praised I” cried Frau von Herbeck with 
profound satisfaction. “ It is most certainly the fact, 
your Excellency, that the Lord has blinded the eyes of 
that man and led him to a just punishment. Your 
Excellency should hear him in the pulpit! A positive 
free-thinker I His sermons are full of flowers and stars, 
spring skies and sunshine. I expect him every moment 
to break out into verse. He was my most determined 
opponent ; he has increased a thousandfold the obstacles 
in the way of my exalted mission, — now it is my turn to 
triumph.” 

Meanwhile the two other ladies walked slowly along 
the linden avenue 

Whilst Gisela’s eyes were so intently bent upon the 
ground that it seemed almost as if she were counting 
the pebbles in the gravel at her fee-t, her stepmother 
did not cease to regard her with a gloomy feeling of 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


159 


wonder. She was now obliged to look up to the form 
which only half an hour previously had lived in her 
memory as drooping, sickly, and wanting in every youth- 
ful charm, and for which only a few weeks before she 
had sent from Paris a most charming toilette, with a 
pitying reflection as to the figure the poor little scarecrow 
would make in it. Were Frau von Herbeck and the phy- 
sician blind that they had never mentioned a syllable of 
this wondrous transformation ? The graceful woman of 
thirty years of age, through whose brain these thoughts 
were passing, was still exceedingly handsome, but she 
was no longer Jutta von Zweiflingen in the first bloom 
of youthful beauty. In the evening that head and face 
might still have seemed to belong to eighteen, but in 
full daylight her complexion, although still fair, was no 
longer fresh, — it looked like a fading white rose-leaf. 
Perhaps while the beautiful woman was gazing so 
fixedly upon the fresh young face at her side, her 
thoughts were busy with the gnawing anxiety that had 
caused her own beauty to begin to fade. 

At the end of the avenue an aged servant approached, 
— he looked much heated, and from his closed hand, 
which he was most carefully regarding, there peeped the 
little head of a bird. He bent his old back almost to the 
ground before the ladies. 

“My lady Countess expressed a wish this morning for 
a good bullfinch,” he said to Gisela ; “ the Greinsfeld 
weaver had the best songster in the whole forest, and I 
ran over there this afternoon. My lady cannot indeed 
buy the little thing very reasonably, it is the finest singer 
that the weaver has. It nearly got away from me just 
now, — one of .the wires of its cage was broken.” 

He said this with a sigh of relief, — it was evident that 
his trouble had been great in bringing home the costly 
bird. 


160 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


The young Countess tenderly stroked the bird’s little 
heal 

“That is well, Braun,” she said, “put the bird in the 
aviary. Frau von Herbeck will see that the man is paid.” 

The strictest master of ceremonies could not have 
found the smallest reason at this moment to find fault 
with her manner. She was the imperious high-born 
mistress, whose address to her inferiors was laconic 
in the extreme, — the Countess Vdldern from head to 
foot. 

She had no word of thanks for the old man, who had 
gone a mile in the burning noonday sun to gratify an 
eagerly expressed desire of hers, — his feet were weary, 
and his brow was moist with his exertions, — but, — it 
was only her lackey Braun, — as far back as she could re- 
member those limbs had been at her service, — those eyes 
dared not laugh,; — those lips could not speak in her pres- 
ence unless with her permission; she had never heard his 
voice either raised or lowered ; she never heard anything 
but that subdued half whisper from him. Had this man 
joys and sorrows of his own ? Did he feel and think ? 
Such speculations had never entered the mind of the little 
Countess, who had pondered for hours upon the possi- 
bility of her cat’s possessing a soul. These human 
beings, all so alike in form and manner, never suggested 
such thoughts. 

The servant bowed as profoundly as if the promise 
that the bird should be paid for were an unmerited 
favour accorded to himself, and softly withdrew. 

In the vestibule both ladies encountered the Minister 
and the governess again. His Excellency left them for 
a moment to change his dress, and the young Countess 
went to give orders to her maid, whilst the Baroness and 
Frau von Herbeck ascended the staircase. 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


161 


“ Have you ordered coffee, Frau von Herbeck V asked 
the Baroness. 

“ It is all ready, your Excellency,” replied the govern- 
ess, indicating a passage that led aside from the main 
corridor. 

The Baroness paused, and hesitated whether to ascend 
the low steps that led up to it. At that moment the 
door at the farther end of the passage was opened, a ser- 
vant came out, and, seeing the two ladies, flung open the 
folding-doors. 

In this large apartment the table for coffee was laid 
near a high bow-window. Rays of ruby-red and intense 
blue played about the glittering silver service, and glinted 
on the dark polished wood of the floor, — the bow-window 
was glazed with magnificent antique stained glass, and 
through the brilliant garments of the transparent saints 
the honest Thuringian landscape outside looked like some 
fabled Eastern fairy-land. 

Without a word, but with evident annoyance, the Bar- 
oness crossed the corridor and entered the apartment. 
It was the same room adjoining the castle chapel which 
had once been the object of the child Gisela’s enthusi- 
astic admiration, and the same colossal grave figures 
from biblical history looked down from the walls, on ac- 
count of which the once worldly-minded Frau von Her- 
beck had persistently avoided the apartment, declaring 
that it gave her frightful dreams. 

The servant entered also ; he pushed the antique 
spindle-legged arm-chairs up to the table, half-closed one 
of the side shutters of the window, — because the sun 
brought too much heat and glare into the cool cathedral- 
like atmosphere of the place, — and brushed from a waiter 
the fine layer of dust, which would probably accumulate 
L 14* 


162 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


again in a few moments, — these ancient walls, this floor 
almost black with age, preached as earnestly and elo- 
quently as the figures of the saints, of the vanishing 
nature of the things of earth: ‘Dust, dust I' 

The Baroness stood beside an arm-chair, leaning her 
arm upon its high back, — she did not take off her hat 
nor shawl, but waited with apparent composure until 
the servant had completed his preparations, and then 
motioned him to retire. 

“ My good Frau von Herbeck I” she coldly broke the 
embarrassing silence, without altering her position in the 
least, “ will you have the kindness to inform me what 
induced you to show me hither?” 

“Oh Heavens, how can your Excellency allude in such 
a manner to my innocent arrangements!” cried the 
governess. “ The Countess is very fond of this room, 
we dine here, and in accordance with the quiet and 
serious life that the Countess and myself both lead, 
nothing can be more desirable for us than this retreat, 
. — pray forgive me if my love for it has led me too 
far !” 

She went towards a folding-door in the northern wall 
of the apartment and threw it open. The castle chapel 
in its entire depth lay beyond. In spite of the golden 
sunshine and July warmth outside, a gray cold twilight 
reigned beneath the huge dome, the heavy gilding of the 
almost redundant ornamentation glittered dimly, and 
below, beside the altar. Prince Heinrich’s white marble 
monument gleamed ghostlike in the obscurity. What 
seemed a breath from the grave was wafted into the 
saloon, — ^the Baroness drew her shawl closely around 
her, and held her handkerchief to her lips. 

“ Look, your Excellency, is it not wonderful ?” con- 
tinued Frau von Herbeck. “I scrupulously avoid the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


163 


Neuenfeld church as long as the pulpit is occupied by 
the antichrist, who renders all our pious exertions of 
no avail. All the refreshment that I get is to have 
the Greinsfeld schoolmaster here every week, — he is a 
Bible Christian, and plays chorals for me upon the 
organ.” 

A fleeting but malicious smile hovered upon the 
Baroness’s lovely lips for a moment, — perhaps she was 
thinking of the time when this same lady had rustled to 
and fro majestically in the little room at the parsonage, 
frantic with irritation that she had been compelled to 
listen to a choral. 

The smile did not escape the governess, — a sharp 
glance shot from her eyes. 

“ And indeed I am not such an egotist,” she said, not 
without severity, “ as to send for this man for the salva- 
tion and refreshment of my soul alone ; all the people in 
the castle and the tenantry also are obliged to attend 
here. I labour in the vineyard of the Lord, not only, 
your Excellency ” 

“ Oh pray !” the Baroness interrupted her, motioning 
her away with her hand, “ do you suppose I am not 
fully aware of what our duty is at present? I see just 
as well as you do, my good Frau von Herbeck, where 
the reins are to be tightly drawn, and as far as in me 
lies I see to it strictly that people think and believe as I 
deem best. But you could not seriously suppose that I 
should pursue myself the same line of conduct that I 
have marked out for my dependents ? If it gives you 
any pleasure to castigate yourself, do it, but alone and 
in private, I entreat you. Your bringing me betrays 
a little of the love of power that characterizes your 
sect, and therefore, my dear Frau von Herbeck, I shall 
not drink my coffee here where the dust falls into the 


164 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


cream, and the eyes of all these martyred saints spoil my 
appetite.” 

How cuttingly all this came from those delicate lips, 
as the wonderful black eyes gleamed with offended pride 
and cold disdain I There was irony even in the graceful 
movement by which she brushed imaginary dust from 
the arm which had leaned upon the back of the chair. 
She slightly raised her trailing skirts and left the 
saloon. 

“ Serve the coffee below-stairs, in his Excellency’s 
white-room,” was her order to the servant waiting out- 
side. 

Frau von Hefbeck followed her without a word of re- 
monstrance, but her cheeks burned, and the glance that 
she cast upon the fair form gliding before her sparkled 
with malice. Possibly she was thinking of the past, 
perhaps even of the blue velvet cloak, which she had 
once compassionately thrown around that graceful figure, 
that the present mistress of the White Castle might first 
enter it, ‘ at least with some respectability.’ 


CHAPTER XII. 

The next day the curtains v;^ere drawn behind the 
windows of the apartments of the Baroness Fleury ; the 
lady was suffering from violent nervous headache, the 
result of the journey of the previous day in the heat of 
the sun. No one was allowed to see her; profound 
silence reigned in all the corridors, and the Minister was 
careful that nothing, not even a footstep, should disturb 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


165 


the sufferer, who was, report said, adored by her husband 
as idolatrously as upon their marriage-day. 

But in the opposite wing of the castle all was bustle 
and preparation. Early in the morning workmen arrived 

from A with a huge furniture wagon. The faded 

curtains and bed-hangings that had not been renewed 
since Prince Heinrich’s time were taken down, the 
walls, from which the old worn tapestry was torn, were 
adorned in the costliest manner, the old-fashioned glass 
chandeliers were replaced by modern candelabra of 
bronze, and the valuable but antique furniture w'as 
stowed away in remote apartments. 

His Excellency superintended everything with the 
greatest care, for no less an event than a visit from the 
Prince was in prospect. The lord of the land was to 
sleep in the bed hung with royal-blue silk, the magnifi- 
cent mirror brought from Paris was to reflect his princely 
person, and the statuettes and pictures that lay around 
half unpacked were to delight his critical eye. 

It had chanced that in one of the Prince’s late jour- 
neys, newspapers had fallen into his hands, in which his 
Minister’s administration had been most roughly criti- 
ci'sed. He was greatly irritated by these ‘scandalous 
articles’ and ‘tissues of lies,’ and in order to afford a 
striking proof to the eyes of the world of his apprecia- 
tion of his outraged favourite, he had volunteered a visit 
to the Ministers country-seat. 

It was a distinction of which not one noble family in 
the country could boast, and of course everything must be 
done in order, by every possible display of splendour, to 
pro'^e the favoured one worthy of so rare an honour; and 
how easy this would be for his Excellency ! He had only 
to open his French money-bags. Yet the people at the 
castle shook their heads — he had seemed so very cheer- 


166 


COVNTESS GISELA. 


ful upon his arrival, but he had grown morose over 
night, and irritable at every suggestion ; a close ob- 
server would have discovered unaccustomed lines in his 
countenance commonly so guarded in its expression, 
lines of secret anxiety. He had not been seen by the 
young Countess and Frau von Herbeck except at dinner, 
and then he who in his usual visits to Greinsfeld and 
Arnsberg actually exhausted himself in attention to his 
sick stepchild, sat opposite to her silent and distraught, 
while Frau von Herbeck was made aware of the sad 
truth that his Excellency’s powers of satire had been 
considerably sharpened during his late visit to Paris. 

Thus the first day passed. The morning sky hung 
cloudless above the Thuringian forest. The first rays 
of the sun and the fresh gentle breeze of morning ab- 
sorbed the last dew-drops upon the upper boughs of the 
trees ; but below, in the shade, the tear-drops of the 
night were sparkling upon ferns and strawberry-vines 
and clinging to the green moss, that they might not 
sink down into the black thirsty earth. 

The White Castle lay glittering amongst its fountains, 
groves, and green alleys. All its shutters were open, as 
were also the curtains of the Baroness’s apartments. The 
lady had entirely recovered, and had risen much re- 
freshed and given orders that breakfast should be served 
in the forest. She was walking alone in the castle gar- 
den ; her husband was busy with his workmen and was 
to follow her, and Frau von Herbeck was still at her 
toilette ; while, in consequence of the occurrences of the 
day but one previously, the young Countess was not to 
leave the castle without her. 

The castle’s beautiful mistress was dressed in a style 
more suited to the Bois de Boulogne than to these 
honest German oaks and beeches, among whose lonely 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


167 


trunks there were no eyes to be encountered, except 
perhaps those of some village child gathering berries. 
The lady looked like one of Watteau’s shepherdesses in 
her looped overskirt of snowy-white that fell in soft folds 
bordered with crimson ; worn low upon her forehead, a 
light straw hat surmounted her coal-black hair, of which 
not one curl was allowed to escape. The skilful hands 
of her Paris maid had arranged those heavy masses at 
the back of the head in that monstrosity which the world 
calls a ‘ chignon.’ Yet in spite of the disfiguring fashion 
of her hair, the woman whose light footfall pressed the 
dewy grass was enchantingly fair. 

The spot in the forest where breakfast was laid was 
not far from the lake ; through a narrow opening in the 
arching boughs of the trees, part of its glassy surface, as 
it glimmered and shone, could be seen from the little 
forest-meadow, shaded by the huge beeches. Prince 
Heinrich had been very fond of this little oasis ; benches 
and tables of finely carved stone stood about here and 
there, and beneath the Prince’s favourite tree, a mag- 
nificent, purple beech, was placed a bronze bust of him, 
the size of life, upon a pedestal of sandstone. The 
borders of the Zweiflingen estate were near at hand j 
some isolated white birches gleamed in the distance 
through the underwood, and designated the boundary 
line ; and when the air was still, the cawing of the rooks 
in the towers of the forest-house could be heard here. 

The Baroness Fleury hastened her steps as she entered 
the forest. Upon her lovely face there were no signs of 
the quiet enjoyment that comes with a morning walk in a 
beautiful wood ; there was rather an expression of eager 
curiosity in her black eyes. She went around the lake, 
and entered the woodland path, at the end of which 
the young Countess had moored her boat, while the chiJ 


168 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


dren sang. She could see, through the trees, the white 
table-cloth upon the breakfast-table ; but the lady glided 
past with a shy glance towards the servants busy there, 
and pursued the path which led directly to the Zwei- 
flingen estate. She had often previously walked as far 
as a certain spot where two paths branched in opposite 
directions but never any farther, as one path led to the 
forest-house. The last of the Zweiflingens never allowed 
her surroundings to suggest or her memory to dwell 
upon that past time of degradation and poverty, and 
therefore she had never again crossed the threshold of 
the old hunting-lodge. 

But to-day the Rubicon was passed. The birds that 
were feeding in the underwood flew startled into the tree- 
tops, and chirped .down with outstretched necks to the 
female form that passed carefully through the damp bushes 
without letting one drop of dew fall upon her light dress. 
The white birches lay far behind her, the path gradually 
grew broader, and at last, behind the leafy screen of the 
interposing thicket, the old gray pile appeared. 

The Baroness stepped behind a bush, parted the boughs 
and looked through, — the fa9ade was before her. 

The old forest-house and its strange new proprietor 
were the talk of the day. Wonderful stories were told of 
the fabulous wealth of the Portuguese. This Herr von 
Oliveira, — Germans cannot conceive of a distinguished 
mac not possessed of a von, or title of some kind, — had 

hired the finest house in A for an immense sum ; it 

was well known that he intended to spend the winter in 
the capital and be presented at court, and those fo'rtunate 
enough to have seen him at a distance, declared him to be 
the handsomest cavalier that the kingdom had ever beheld, 
quite equal to the deceased Major von Zweiflingen in the 
gallantry and aristocratic dignity of his exterior, — and ho 


COUNTESS GISELA. 169 

had certainly transformed the forest-house into a fancy 
palace. 

The beautiful eavesdropper could not perceive any 
such transformation, although the old pile was certainly 
changed and struck one with a new sense of originality. 

The narrow strip of lawn that had formerly extended in 
front of it, had become a large half circle of closely-shaven 
grass, around which was a broad gravel-path. There had 
once been a fountain of most primitive construction here, 
little more in fact than a stone trough, into which the fresh 
sparkling spring-water flowed through wooden pipes, — 
now in the centre of the lawn there was a huge granite 
basin, from the middle of which a strong column of water 
leaped high into the air. This crystal pillar, with its 
prismatic spray, its rippling and splashing, shooting up 
thus in the depth of the forest, surrounded by ancient 
oaks, really breathed around an atmosphere of fairy-like 
enchantment. The involuntary impression of magic at 
work here, was confirmed by the impenetrable screen of 
Aristolochia that had stretched its hundreds of thin green 
arms in all directions, and taken forcible possession of the 
old gray walls. There stood the two pages sounding the 
bugle-call on either side of the steps, as though stiffened 
into the hundred years’ sleep of the fairy tale ; the green 
snaky vine wound around their limbs, and the broad 
leaves fluttered from their stone shoulders. It crept up 
even to the roofs of the towers and boldly peeped into 
the ancient rooks’ nests ; then stretching abroad greedily 
to the summits of the old oaks, it looked as if gradually 
forest and house and the leaping water-fall would be all 
woven over with the green twilight. 

But the windows were not enclosed in the dangerous 
embrace. The new proprietor seemed fond of light and 
air; instead of the little old leaded panes, the stone 

15 


no 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


window frames were filled with huge squares of glass, 
through which light streamed in on both sides of the 
hall, in which two opposite doors now stood wide open. 

Not the smallest sensation of melancholy was felt by 
the beautiful w^oman as her glance fell upon the wain, 
scoted walls upon which for centuries had hung the por- 
traits of her Zweiflingen ancestors. Why, had she not 
forsooth quickly and joyfully consented to the sale of the 
‘ old nest?’ And the purchase-money, the only inheritance 
of the last Zweiflingen, had just sufficed to pay for two 
charming Parisian toilettes I 

Upon the marble pavement of the hall were spread 
tiger and bear skins ; heavy, rather rude oaken chairs and 
tables were grouped in the centre, and from the ceiling 
was suspended a magnificent chandelier composed of a 
quantity of mimic weapons. The new proprietor could 
scarcely be an effeminate man ; there were no cushions or 
curtains to be seen, and not a trace of those delicate trifles 
. — utterly useless indeed — with which the exquisites of 
our day surround themselves, — but the skins upon the 
floor and a choice collection of weapons arranged upon 
the southern wall would seem to show that the man 
liked to prove his strength in conflicts with the fiercest 
foes of human kind. 

A table was laid upon the terrace, and the practised 
eye of the great lady at once perceived that the service 
was of solid silver. The master of the house had doubt- 
less breakfasted here, for at this moment his chair was 
empty and a parrot was making good use of his absence 
devouring the crumbs that were scattered upon the 
table. After each morsel, which he seemed to relish 
exceedingly, he screamed out “ Revenge is sweet I” then 
ran as far as his chain would allow to the edge of the 
table, and scolded at one of the pages of stone, upon 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


171 


whos<3 shoulder crouched a comical little monkey sitting 
perfectly motionless gazing in melancholy mood into the 
German forest. 

Suddenly the lady started : a dark expression of hatred 
disfigured her delicate features, — how came that miser- 
able fellow here ? Must his hateful presence linger for- 
ever about the forest-house ? 

It was old Sievert who came out of the hall. There 
was the same gloomy face with its hard coarse features 
— the man, who had once been so insolent as to maintain 
a pitiless severity towards the irresistible Jutta von 
Zweiflingen, had not altered ; now when a sunbeam flick- 
ered upon his brow, the clear bright flush of health and 
strength could be discerned upon his cheeks. 

He rebuked the parrot, tapping him on the back with 
a silver spoon, — upon which the creature got out of the 
way as quickly as possible and scrambled back to his 
ring. The old soldier cleared the table and arranged 
upon it some of the books that were lying open upon the 
chairs, placed a cigar box near at hand, and then disap- 
peared in the hall with his silver waiter. 

This sight sufficed to arouse in the mind of the beauti- 
ful woman a swarm of ugly memories. That hateful man 
had once forced her to take some blackened cooking uten- 
sil in the hand now adorned by the wedding-ring of the 
mightiest peer in the country : the thought that those 
white fingers had committed a crime, could not have so 
irritated the lady as did the remembrance of those de- 
grading spots of rust. Besides, she knew that at the end 
of every quarter the old soldier eked out the blind 
woman's income from his own pocket, so her Excellency 
ihe Baroness Fleury had eaten the bread of charity, — and 
there in the tower chamber the obstinate old blind woman 
had died with terrible maledictions on her lips upon him 


1^2 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


whose proud name her daughter now owned. Upon that 
terrace, once upon a warm summer night, a man had 
stood, a tall noble figure with a magnificent blonde beard, 
a reserved silent mouth, and melancholy eyes, while a 
young girl nestled against his breast listening to the wild 
throbbing of his heart; above the tree-tops the moon rose 

large and full, and the girl had sworn Sworn ! — the 

lady behind the bushes started in terror as though hunted 
by fiends — away, away I What demoniac power had led 
her hither ! 

Her face grew deadly pale, but not with the pangs of 
fruitless remorse, — there was anger, inextinguishable 
hatred, in those black eyes, as the last Zweiflingen 
looked back once more towards the house that had been 
witness of her ‘ degrading childish folly but her flee- 
ing feet were suddenly stayed, for just at this moment a 
man issued from the hall. 

The pygmies of to-day stand in incredulous amaze- 
ment before suits of ancient armour, and wonder what 
those forms could have been like, that, clad in that 
heavy harness, once moved through bower and hall, as 
easily as though wrapt in velvet. There stood one of 
those lordly forms : that handsome embrowned face could 
have smiled defiance from beneath the most ponderous 
helmet, and the powerful muscular figure that could sit 
a horse, as Frau von Herbjick said, ‘ like a god,’ would 
assuredly have retained all its southern grace of motion, 
even though cased in steel. 

The Baroness could observe the stranger to-day at 
her leisure. When she had previously seen him his face 
had been shaded by a broad-brimmed planter’s hat: now 
she could distinguish his dark brown features and the 
faultless outline of his Roman profile, — no beard hid the 
classic shape of chin and cheek. The dark hue of his skin 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


173 


was evidently due more to the effect of the tropical sun, 
and his own probable wanderings and toils beneath it, 
than to his southern origin, for the brow which had been 
protected by his hat was white as alabaster ; yet, strange 
to say, although it actually shone, it gave the young faco, 
— the man was perhaps thirty years old, — an expression 
of mature gravity — yes, those two deep furrows between 
the strongly-marked eyebrows bore the stamp of deep 
suspicion, — of a hostile protest against all mankind. 

With a gesture of peculiar gentleness doubly striking 
in a man so large and strong, the Portuguese extended 
his left arm, — the little monkey sprang upon it, and 
nestled up to his master like a child: the lady in her 
concealment suddenly felt a strange desire to thrust the 
ugly little animal away from him. Had this impulse 
the force of a spark of electricity? The Portuguese 
shook off the little creature suddenly and somewhat 
roughly, walked to the topmost step, and stood gazing 
towards the spot where the Baroness stood, — but she in- 
stantly perceived that his gaze was not directed towards 
her. 

The Newfoundland dog, which had lately saved the 
life of the child of the pastor of Neuenfeld, ran swiftly 
past her hiding-place, gasping for breath as though pur- 
sued and rushed around the gravel-path, disappearing 
behind the house, and then appearing again. 

“ Hero, here ! here I” his master called to him. 

The dog ran on as if he had not heard a sound, de- 
scribing in his course around the house the whole extent 
of a circle. 

The man must have been terribly excitable and violent ; 
his brown cheeks grew pale with anger, he sprang down 
the steps and awaited the gasping barking animal, 
as it was again seen coming from behind the house. 

15 =*^ 


174 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Another threatening call was as entirely without result 
as the first. 

The Portuguese sprang up the terrace steps, disap- 
peared within the house and returned immediately with 
a pistol in his hand. 

The disobedient brute seemed to know that danger 
was threatening him, and, rushing so wildly that his 
body almost lay upon the ground, he left the gravel-walk 
and turned into one of the forest-paths leading towards 
the lake. His master, who saw him disappearing, sprang 
after him. 

And now the terrified woman turned and fled. She 
ran back upon the path along which she had come — 
throwing away her parasol, she stopped her ears with 
her hands, that she might not hear the shot from the 
weapon of the enraged man. 

The way taken by the dog was far more winding 
than the one along which the Baroness was fleeing, and 
yet, when she reached the forest-meadow, the animal 
was there already, careering around it, as he had done 
around the forest-house, — and although his tongue was 
hanging far out of his mouth, his flying feet showed no 
signs of exhaustion — he looked as though driven on- 
wards by some invisible power. 

The footmen placed themselves like a screen before the 
table, which now stood ready for breakfast, and which 
was in momentary danger of being overthrown, but none 
of them dared to seize the huge beast, or to try to chase 
it away. 

Simultaneously with the Baroness but from another 
path the Portuguese came out from the forest, and at the 
same moment Gisela, accompanied by Frau von Her- 
beck, came ?ip from the lake, — the Baroness rushed to- 
ward them. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


175 

“ He is a madman ! He is going to shoot the dog be- 
cause he will not obey him,” she whispered in trembling 
tones, pointing to the man who stood there with heaving 
chest and pale face ; yet in spite of his great agitation 
he raised his arrh with quiet determination. 

“ Oh, sir, the dog saved a child’s life I” cried Gisela, 
and flying across the meadow she threw herself between 
ths frenzied animal and his angry master. Suddenly she 
felt an arm thrown around her, she was snatched aside, 
there was a shot, and the magnificent dog fell dead at her 
feet. The young girl, who had never endured the slightest 
touch of another’s hand, was pressed closely to a wildly 
throbbing heart, she felt a man’s breath upon her brow — 
her eyes opened wide in terror and gazed into the face of 
the Portuguese, whose dark glance met her own with a 
strange and inexplicable expression. A thousand times 
in her life the orphan Countess had heard anxiety ex- 
pressed on account of her invalid condition, — the same 
phrases were always used, — until they provoked her to 
almost rude contradiction; but a glance of genuine ten- 
der anxiety cannot be counterfeited, — that she had never 
seen ; and therefore the gaze of the Portuguese was in- 
comprehensible to her. 

She understood, however, that he had snatched her 
aside simply because she was in his way, and most prob- 
ably Frau von Herbeck’s assertion that he was ‘ deter- 
mined to insult her’ was correct, — for he hastily with- 
drew his arm and started back as if he had touched a 
serpent. 

All this was the work of a few seconds. The Portu- 
guese threw down his pistol and knelt beside his dog, — 
which, however, shot directly through the heart, had died 
instantly. How deeply graven were those mysterious 
lines in the man’s forehead I but in connection with hie 


176 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


closely compressed lips they spoke only of the deepest 
sorrow, 

He did not look up even when the Baroness and Frau 
von Herbeck approached. 

“ But, my dearest Countess, how rash I How you have 
frightened us! We are trembling all over with agita- 
tion 1” cried the governess panting and extending her 
arms as if to enclose in their protecting embrace the girl, 
who had grown very pale. One glance from those brown 
eyes, and the arms were dropped again. Her remark 
was without result, no one appeared to care about her 
agitation. She stepped up to the dog. 

Poor thing, to have to die so I” she said compassion- 
ately, but she understood how to modulate her voice, — 
reproach was conveyed in every tone. 

The Portuguese arose and looked down upon the gov- 
erness, — she felt as though his glance would turn her 
into stone. 

“ Do you suppose, madame, that I shot the animal for 
pleasure he asked with a strange mixture of anger, 
sarcasm, and pain, — he spoke the purest German. 

He extended his hand warningly towards one of the 
footmen who approached to stroke the dog. 

“ Be careful — the dog was mad I” he said. Frau von 
Herbeck sprang back with a loud scream, — she had nearly 
touched the tip of the animal’s tail with her foot. But 
the Baroness now fearlessly approached, — she had hith- 
erto stood rather aloof. 

“Then, sir, we all owe you our thanks,” she said, “for 
our rescue from a great peril.” What a fascinating smile 
and yet what an air of aristocratic reserve the lady could 
assume I “lam specially grateful to you,” she continued, 
“for I was walking entirely alone in the forest.” 

It was a commonplace remark, and yet it seemed 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


n? 

to be received as if it were a profound and obscure 
oracle, — for the stranger stood face to face before the 
beautiful woman without a word. She was perfectly 
aware of the dazzling effect of her beauty and melodious 
voice, but she was not prepared for this instantaneous 
expression of it. Evidently the stranger struggled against 
it, — but in vain, — the noble knightly figure could not even 
bow courteously 

The Baroness smiled and turned away ; her eyes fell 
upon the young Countess who was observing this strange 
emotion with compressed lips. 

“ My child, how you look !” she cried in alarm, — appa- 
rently her anxiety caused her to forget all else. “ Indeed 
I must join Frau von Herbeck in scolding you. It was 
inexcusable in you to run hither where the pistol-shot, 
and this terrible sight could not but shatter your nerves. 
How can you expect ever to be well if you take so little 
care of yourself?” 

She intended to convey the impression of tender anx- 
iety ; but the rejlroof, which might have been justly ad- 
dressed to a child of ten years of age, — how foolish it 
sounded when applied to the girl who stood there in the 
full pride of her maidenhood, and who, though she could 
not control the burning blush that suffused her cheeks 
and brow, could control her lips — they uttered no sound! 

Her silence always had a peculiar significance ; it was 
neither the silence of embarrassment nor of obstinate 
defiance, — it was rather the self-control of a spirit that 
would avoid unnecessary speech. 

Frau von Herbeck called it the ‘ Yoldern obstinacy in 
its most distinct development,’ — a construction at which 
she now hinted by a malicious compression of the lips 
and a melancholy shake of the head. 

The sudden glance that the stranger cast towards 
M 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


ns 

Gisela as the Baroness expressed such tender anxiety was 
unobserved, — but any one who had seen it would have 
trembled for the young creature who was the object of 
such intense aversion as that look betrayed. 

The Portuguese, when the ladies again turned towards 
him, had retreated noiselessly into the thicket, 


CHAPTER XIII. 

Frau von Herbeck sneered and pointed through the 
bushes where the light summer dress of the Portuguese 
was still visible. 

“There he goes without a word!” she said. “Your 
Excellency now sees for yourself what a charming neigh- 
bour we have for the White Castle. Insolent fellow I — 
His noble blood does not think it worth while to bend 
his proud baek to a German lady I I was amazed, your 
Excellency, at the manner in which he received your kind- 
ness I” 

“ I doubt whether it were insolence,” the lady replied, 
shrugging her shoulders with a slight but expressive 
smile. 

The governess’s eyes gleamed for a moment like those 
of a cat, — her opponent had one powerful ally, — feminine 
vanity. 

“ But his conduct towards our Countess, — can your 
Excellency excuse that also ?” she asked angrily, after a 
momentary pause “ First he seized her sans fagon, and 
hurled her aside.” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


119 


“My little daughter has herself to thank for that,” 
interposed the Baroness, stroking Gisela’s cheek lightly 
with her forefinger. “ That heroic attempt to save the 
dog’s life was rather childish, little one 1” 

“And then he suddenly pushed her away,” continued 
the governess in a raised voice. “ Can your Excellency 
deny that he pushed her away with every sign of anger, 
— nay, it is not too much to say — of bitter hatred ?” 

“ I cannot deny that, my good Frau von Herbeck, for 
I saw it with my own eyes ; but I cannot quite echo youi 
word hatred. Why in all the world should this man 
hate the Countess ? He does not even know her. As 
far as I could see, he recoiled with a momentary almost 
involuntary aversion, and this brings me to a matter 
which both the Baron and myself have nearly at heart, — 
it is imperatively necessary that our child should con- 
tinue to lead a retired secluded existence.” 

She thrust out her little bronze boot, and regarded it 
uneasily, as though painfully confused. 

“ I cannot bear to approach this delicate subject again,” 
she said at last to Gisela, “ and yet I must do so, — all 
the more as you, my child, betray a great desire to 
forget your retirement. Many people, both men and 
women, entertain a peculiar horror of anything like a 
nervous attack. Unfortunately, my dear Gisela, y(ur 
malady is universally known, and you would in any con- 
tact with the world be wounded by numberless thought- 
less remarks and actions, — we have just had a striking 
illustration of what I say.” 

She pointed in the direction whence the Portuguese 
had disappeared. 

“ But you little goose 1” she added soothingly, as she 
saw the girl’s lips blanch, as if with sudden fear. 
“ That ought not tP vex you, — we are at hand to gu 4 ^:(i 


180 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


you 1/)uderly ; and then do we not hope that you wil? 
gradually improve in health 

Like all skilful diplomatists, having shot an arrow and 
seen it reach the mark, she changed the subject. She 
ordered one of the footmen to search fov her parasol, 
and confessed, laughing, to the ladies that she had been 
‘terribly frightened.’ 

“And no wonder,” she said; “I have seen the forest- 
house, and it impresses one as its master does : it is half 
like the residence of a fairy prince, and half like the den 
of a northern barbarian. Who can tell what that man’s 
past has been, — even his parrot chatters of revenge I” 

She ceased, — people from the forest-house approached, 
to take away the body of the dog and remove all traces 
of the occurrence. They lifted the animal’s body as ten- 
derly and carefully as if it had been that of a human 
being. 

“ The master loved him like a friend,” one of the men 
said to a footman standing near ; “ the dog saved his life 
once when he was attacked by robbers, — the master will 
not get over it very soon ; he was white as a sheet when 
he reached home, — and cross old Sievert is actually sob- 
bing: he took to Hero greatly.” 

The ladies stood near enough to hear every word ; but 
at mention of Sievert’s name, the Baroness turned away 
disdainfully towards the breakfast-table, where she seated 
herself. She put her eye-glass to her eyes, and looked 
fi xedly at her stepdaughter, who was approaching slowly 
with Frau von Herbeck, while the men with the dog 
disappeared in the forest. 

“Apropos, Gisela, I must tell you one thing!” she 
cried out to the young girl. “ I pray you excuse me, — ■ 
but you dress in the most extraordinary style. — it seems 
really too pauvre.^^ 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


181 


The young Countess had on a dress cut precisely like 
that which she had worn in the boat, but of a delicate 
blue. Without any trimming it looked almost like a talar, 
with its open flowing sleeves, and the folds confined at 
the waist by a girdle. But the transparent muslin lay 
smoothly around the lovely neck and shoulders, show- 
ing to advantage the graceful outline of the figure, while 
a black velvet ribbon to-day confined the fair abundant 
hair. Hers was indeed no Parisian toilette, a la Wat- 
teau, but she looked like a fairy. 

“Ah! how it troubles poor Lena, your Excellency,’^ 
cried the governess. “ For my part, I have ceased to 
speak of it.” 

“And so you ought, Frau von Herbeck,” Gisela inter- 
rupted her gravely. “ Did you not yesterday assure one 
of the maid-servants that she was an outcast from grace 
because she was possessed by the demon of vanity?” 

The Baroness’s lips curled with a slight smile. But the 
governess flamed up in righteous indignation at the re- 
membrance of the fact. 

“And I was perfectly right,” she said. “ Has not the 
stupid God-forgotten creature bought herself a round 
straw hat exactly the shape of my new one ? But, dear- 
est Countess, how can you draw such a parallel I — it is 
not fair — that is one of your little teasing speeches !’ 

“ I hoped to have seen you in the charming dress that 
I sent you from Paris, my child,” said the Baroness, 
without heeding Frau von Herbeck’s lamentations. 

“ It was far too short and too narrow for me ; I nave 
grown, mamma.” 

A dark glance from those black eyes was cast upon 
the girl’s face and figure. 

“ It was made exactly by the measure that Lena gave 
me when I left here,” she said slowly and sharply, “ and 

16 


182 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


you will not pretend to me, child, that you have altered 
so much in a few months 

“ I never pretend anything to you, mamma, and 
therefore I confess that I never should have worn the 
dress even though it had fitted me, — I detest all striking 
colours, — you know that perfectly well, mamma, — I gave 
the scarlet jacket to Lena.” 

The Baroness started with irritation, but quickly com- 
manded herself. 

“ Well, that lovely Cashmere will suit your dressing- 
maid admirably!” she said with a sneer, “and I will 
take care for the future not to select anything without 
exact instructions from my daughter. But I cannot help 
mistrusting this wonderful simplicity in girls : just at the 
bread-and-butter age, — as you are, — it looks to me a little 
like hypocrisy.” 

The corners of Gisela’s mouth were for a moment dis- 
dainfully depressed. 

“ I — a hypocrite ? — no — I am too proud I” she said 
quietly. 

The rare repose of the young girl’s manner left the 
observer in continual doubt whether it were the result 
of inborn gentleness or an all-controlling force of intel 
lect. 

“ I am very proud of being created in the image of 
God,” she continued. “ However others may deck and 
disfigure themselves with all sorts of fashionable frip- 
pery, I shall not do so !” 

“Aha, my dear modest floweret, — then you are sure 
that you are handsomest thus?” cried the Baroness. 
She put up her eye-glass, and measured her stepdaughter 
from head to foot, — a fiendish expression played around 
her mouth. 

“ Yes,” answered Gisela without hesitation, “ my sense 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


183 


of beauty tells me that we should cling to simple noble 
outlines.” 

The Baroness laughed loudly. 

“ Upon my word, Frau von Herbeck,” she said with 
biting irony to the governess, “ this child has been won- 
derfully well employed in her retirement, — I ought to bo 
very grateful to you I It is a pity, my dear, that you 
are not prettier I” she added, turning towards Gisela. 

“ Heavens I your Excellency,” cried Frau von Herbeck, 
“ I cannot imagine how the Countess should suddenly 
display such an amount of vanity, — I have never, I 
assure you, even seen her look in the mirror.” 

The Baroness signed to her to be silent, — the Minister 
was approaching from the lake. 

His Excellency looked anything but fresh and good- 
humoured. From beneath the brim of his hat, which 
was pressed down over his eyes, he scanned the group 
before him, and his gaze rested upon the young Countess. 
She was still standing, — during the conversation she had 
mechanically stretched her arm up to an oaken bough 
that hung rather high, and she continued to hold it 
firmly, — her wide sleeve flew back — like a wing, — 
it was a characteristic attitude, full of noble maidenly 
repose. 

“ Ah, see ! there stands a druidess in her sacred grove I 
You look fantastic enough, my daughter 1” 

He usually accompanied such jests with a slight 
satirical smile, that made his face piquant and attrac- 
tive, but now it was lost in an expression of irrita- 
tion. He kissed his wife’s hand and seated himself 
beside her. 

Whilst Frau von Herbeck poured out the chocolate 
the Baroness related to her husband the adventure with 
the proprietor of the foundry. She confined her account 


184 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


simply tc the shooting of the dog, and never mentioned 
Gisela’s part in the matter. 

“ The man understands how to surround himself with 
a halo of romance,” said the Minister, refusing the offered 
cup of chocolate, and lighting a cigar. “ He seems de- 
termined to play the eccentric, and to be courted for his 
millions, — well, there will soon be an end to that when 
the Prince comes I They say he wishes to be presented, 
and then we shall see him more intimately.” 

He looked absent as he spoke, — his thoughts were 
evidently occupied with other matters. 

“ That clumsy fool of a paperer has broken one of 
the new vases in moving it!” he said, after a pause, 
during which the ladies silently continued their break- 
fast. 

Oh dear 1” said the Baroness. “ But that ought 
not to annoy you so, my friend ! The mischief is easily 
repaired, — the thing could not have cost more than fifty 
thalers.” 

The Minister knocked the ashes from his cigar, — there 
was suppressed impatience in the motion with which he 
turned away. 

“Just as I left the White Castle,” he began again 
after a moment, “Mademoiselle Cecile received a box, 
sent by your Paris dressmaker, Jutta.” 

“Oh, that is delightful news!” cried the lady. “ Cecile 
has been lamenting the delay of the box, and I was 
really afraid that I should be obliged to present myself 
before the Prince Cinderella fashion !” 

“ The fellow has sent a bill for five thousand francs,” 
the Minister remarked. 

The Baroness looked up in amazement. 

“ The man is quite right,” she said, “ I gave him an 
order of five thousand francs.” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


185 


“But, my dear child, if I remember rightly, you 
brought dresses from Paris to the amount of eight 
thousand francs. 

“ Certainly I did,” she said smiling ; “ only it was not 
eight but ten thousand, — I paid them out of my own 
pocket, and I cannot forget it very easily. But I am 
surprised that you do not know that dresses that were 

ordered specially for A are not suitable for the 

country here. I hope you could not think me capable 
of such a want of taste.” 

During this explanation she was engaged in crumbling 
a crust of toast into her chocolate. She occasionally 
glanced askance at her husband, but though her lips 
smiled, her eyes, usually so fiery and glowing, rested 
with a peculiar and stony indifference upon his profile 
and drooping eyelids. There was not a shade left of 
what the beautiful bride had sealed with her ‘yes,^ in the 
chapel at A , ten years before. 

“And since when, my dear Fleury, have you looked 
into my Paris commissions ?” she further asked, in a 
jesting tone. “ It never occurred to you to do it before I 
And then that gloomy face, — I hope you have not grown 
irritable since your last birthday I Pray, my dearest 
Fleury, do not grow old.” 

All this sounded like naive, bewitching raillery, but it 
was full of dagger thrusts for the man who, more than 
twenty years older than his idolized wife, dreaded no- 
thing so much as old age. 

A fleeting flush appeared upon his immovable coun- 
tenance, and his pale lips smiled faintly. 

“ I am a little provoked,” he said, “but not about your 
Parisian fallals, my child, — there sits the culprit I” 

He pointed to Gisela. 

She raised her eyes that had been thoughtfully down 
16 * 


186 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


cast, ar d looked at her stepfather in surprise, but firmly 
and exj)ectantly. His austere tone would have frightened 
ary one else who knew him well, but there was no trace 
of anxiety or confusion upon that girlish face, — and this 
fact evidently irritated his Excellency yet more. 

“ I have just seen your physician, and have heard a 
sad account,” he said with emphasis — “you neglect his 
prescriptions.” 

“ I have been well since I have ceased to take his 
drugs.” 

The Minister started up, — his eyes opened wide and 
actually flashing with anger, “What, you dare to ” 

“ Yes, papa, I am obliged to defend myself. The 
man made me drive in a close carriage at all seasons of 
the year, — he would not let me walk in the castle garden, 

. — and a glass of cold water was prohibited as though it 
were deadly poison. But when, six months ago, Lena 
became ill, he ordered her instantly cold water, fresh air, 
and exercise, — now, papa, exactly what I longed for was 
cold water, fresh air, and exercise, and as the doctor an- 
swered all my entreaties only by a compassionate smile, 
I took the matter into my own hands I” 

“ Does your Excellency now understand the difficulties 
of my position ?” asked Frau von Herbeck, whose choco- 
late had grown cold during Gisela’s confession. 

The Minister had entirely mastered his emotion. 

“ You have bought yourself a saddle-horse ?” he asked 
composedly, without noticing the governess’s remark. 
His cigar, which he was examining minutely, seemed to 
interest him for the moment more than his stepdaughter’s 
reply. 

“ Certainly, papa, with my pin-money,” the young girl 
answered. “1 cannot say that I greatly admire horse- 
women, but I wish to be healthy and strong, and a ride 


COUNTESS GISELA.. 187 

in the fresh morning air strengthens my nerves and mus- 
cles.” 

“ And may I know wherefore the Countess Sturm is so 
bent, d tout prix, upon becoming a Valkyria?” the Min- 
ister asked further, — the satirical smile playing about his 
lips. 

Gisela’s fine brown eyes flashed. 

“Wherefore?” she repeated. “ Because health is ‘life;’ 
because it wounds and offends me to be forever the ob- 
ject of universal compassion; because I am the last 
Sturm I I will not have that noble race end in a frail 
wretched creature. When I go out into the world ” 

The Baroness had hitherto listened in silence, only 
smiling disdainfully at question and answer, but now her 
face flushed scarlet. 

“Aha I you are going to court then?” she interrupted 
the young Countess. 

“ Most certainly, mamma,” Gisela replied without hesi- 
tation. “ I must for grandmamma’s sake, — she went to 
court. I can see her yet as she used to come sparkling 
with diamonds into my room in the evening to bid me 
good-by. But I saw once how her coronet had pressed 
upon her forehead and made a deep red mark. I detest 
the cold heavy stones, and I do not like to think that my 
position will ever force me to wear grandmamma’s bril- 
liants.” 

Involuntarily she put up her hands to her warm white 
neck, as though she already felt the weight of the diamond 
necklace. 

Perfect as was the control over his features possessed 
by the Minister, he could not avoid showing a sudden 
absence of all colour at this mention of the diamonds. 
He tossed his cigar away, and busied himself with select- 
ing another. 


188 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


But the beautiful countenance of his wife was set rigidly 
in an expression of gloomy reflection. She stirred her 
chocolate continuously with her spoon, — those sparkling 
eyes were not used to be cast down, — introspection was 
not her Excellency’s habit, — hut now the long lashes 
drooped darkly above the white cheeks. 

As though he had not heard a word exchanged be- 
tween the ladies, the Minister continued after a moment 
in just the kindly yielding tone he bad formerly used to- 
wards the invalid child. 

“I see that I must give our good old doctor his dis- 
missal, he no longer has any weight with his refractory 
little patient, and I cannot think of putting any force upon 

you, Gisela. Perhaps Doctor Arndt in A will suit you. 

I will send for him, for, my child, notwithstanding your 
lofty ideas with regard to the state of your health, you 
are yet far from well, — in fact, the physician prophesies a 
more violent return of your attacks before long than ” 

He paused and looked with a frown towards the oppo- 
site edge of the forest. 

“ Go over there and see what that is,” he said to a 
footman. “ I think there are people there I” 

“ The nearest path to Greinsfeld passes by here, your 
Excellency,” the man ventured to explain. 

“A wise remark, Braun, — I am quite aware of the 
fact, but I do not choose that people should pass by when 
I am here ; there are other paths to Greinsfeld,” said 
the Minister sharply. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


189 


CHAPTER XIV 

Meanwhile the child whose dress had been seen 
through the underwood had reached the meadow — it 
was the little daughter of the Neuenfeld pastor. 

Gisela saw the child approaching, and for one moment 
she was conscious of the impulse which she had felt two 
days before, when for an instant she had meditated how 
she could get rid of the children in the boat, unwilling 
to be seen by her equals in intercourse with inferiors 
in rank, and afraid of criticism ; a cowardly, miserable 
sensation, degrading the human soul, which will cause 
many a bitter tear, w;rung from wounded hearts, as long 
as human beings hide themselves from their own flesh 
behind artificial barriers. 

But now, as then, her native qualities conquered the 
influences of education in the young Countess. She rose 
quickly and motioned away the footman who was ad- 
vancing to fulfil his master’s orders. 

“You must not send away the child, papa !” she said 
resolutely to the Minister. “ It is the little girl who was 
almost drowned through my fault the day before yester- 
day.” 

She took the hand of the child, who came running to- 
wards her, and kissed her on the forehead. The pretty 
little creature had the same cast of childish face that 
the reader has seen twelve years before beneath the 
Christmas-tree in the Neuenfeld parsonage, — round and 
rosy as an apple-blossom, and with a pair of beaming 
blue eyes that looked up happily at the young Countess. 


190 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


“I thank you very much for the oranges that you gave 
me,” said the Iktle girl. “ Oh, how good they smell ! And 
mamma ironed out my blue apron, and it looks like new 
again I Mamma is coming, too, — we are going to Greins 
feld, — I ran or before to get some strawberries in the forest 
for our Cousin Roder at Greinsfeld, — but I would far 
rathoi give them to you than to our cousin.” 

She raised the cover of her basket that was full of fra- 
grant strawberries. 

“ Aha, my dear Countess, your charming little protegee 
tells a tale I” cried Frau von Herbeck angrily — “ I shall 
take the forest fruit under my protection for the future — 
it nr ost certainly does not grow there for the God-for- 
sak( i inmates of the Neuenfeld parsonage I” 

C sela, who had glanced at her governess in moment- 
ary ilarm at the child’s disclosure, grew red, — but she 
infy intly stood erect, and looked at the little, fat, angry 
f£,are with proud defiance. 

“ How foolish it is to conceal what one has no cause to 
regret, simply out of regard for the opinions of others I” 
she said. “ It was my duty to inform myself of the child’s 
welfare, and to atone for her fright by giving her some 
slight pleasure. But because I knew how you hated the 
Neuenfeld parsonage, I was weak enough to conceal what 
I did from you. I am punished for it, — for :he first time 
in my life I am deeply humiliated, for I seem to have 
been untruthful I Without meaning or doing wrong, I 
am ashamed I” And again her face flushed. “ Fie I what 
a hateful feeling it is ! It shall be a lesson to me, Frau 
von Herbeck. I will overcome such cowardice, and for 
the future boldly conduct myself before every one as my 
own heart tells me to be right !” 

The governess did not pick up the gauntlet thus daunt* 
lessly cast down. Speechless, with quivering lips, she 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


191 


looked to the Minister for aid. It seemed doubtful which 
cause he would espouse, — he did indeed cast one glance 
of displeasure from beneath his drooping eyelids at his 
rebellious daughter, but the open forest was not the 
place for any passionate display of irritation, especially 
as a woman now appeared upon the meadow. 

She stepped forth from between two oaks, tall and 
stately, the model of a German woman. Her round 
hat was hanging upon her arm, and the sunlight shone 
full on her well-carried head, with its broad brow and 
smooth blonde hair. 

She hesitated for a moment, as she saw the distin- 
guished group around the breakfast-table, but the nar- 
row path intersected the little meadow, and she could 
not possibly have heard his Excellency’s orders with 
regard to it. 

Therefore she walked bravely forwards, — the pastor’s 
wife of Neuenfeld. 

Twelve years had elapsed since that eventful Christ- 
mas-eve in the parsonage. The gulf between castle and 
parsonage that had opened on that evening, had been 
zealously kept open by the irritated inmates of the for- 
mer, and the three women met now for the first time 
since upon this little forest-meadow. 

Time, anxiety, and care had indeed left some delicate 
lines on the bright face of the pastor’s wife, but the 
bloom upon her cheeks was still fresh, and her fine pres 
ence had lost nothing of its elasticity and vigour, — and 
no wonder I The sterling quality of the soul that guided 
and controlled her was unchanged. In the character of 
her whole appearance the twelve years had left not a 
trace, — as they also had not in that beautiful frivolous 
woman, whose black eyes were yet gleaming with an 
insatiable thirst for worldly enjoyment. 


192 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


The two figures were types of two classes of women 
always to be met with in the world, but the third, the 
short, fat lady with the corners of her mouth drawn down 
and eyes swimming in pietistic fervour, belonged to a 
class that appears periodically, a type that is only possi- 
ble when politics and the church go hand in hand. 

The* finished woman of the world, who had for forty 
years long regarded reading the Bible as a privilege that 
should be confined to the narrow-minded and the poor, 
— who had despised the choral as entirely too ‘ transcen- 
dental,’ and had found a certain lofty tone of virtue un- 
endurable, had made an enormous stride in her outward 
creed. For such a change there was needed a large 
amount of noble valour, — but the friends of the ‘con- 
verted ’ called that inspiration. 

A woman may wander from the right path with- 
out losing entirely her grasp of the treasure of reli- 
gion, and then she can never be wholly lost, — but a 
woman who, for the sake of worldly advantages, feigns 
to possess this treasure, is fallen indeed — she traffics in 
the most holy I 

“ Mamma, here is the dear lovely Countess whose 
fault it was that I fell into the water I” the little girl 
called out to her mother. 

Gisela laughed like a child, — and a ray of merriment 
at her little daughter’s naivete beamed from the kindly 
eyes of the pastor’s wife, but she stood before the young 
Countess for a moment as though rooted to the spot. She 
had indeed seen the little pale face of the high-born child 
behind the glass panes of the carriage as it rolled swiftly 
by her, and each time she had thought would be the last, 
yet now a single year had transformed the frail figure 
into this blooming maiden. 

“ Good Heavens I my dear Countess,” she cried, “ you 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


193 


are the living image of ” But no, even although the 

resemblance between the grandmother and the grand- 
daughter was most striking, it was impossible to liken 
this lovely gentle young creature, holding the little girPs 
hand so lovingly, to that woman who formerly, as the 
haughty Countess Vdldern, had been deaf to the cries of 
misery and want, and had ruthlessly trodden under foot 
in her earthly career the crushed hearts of so many of 
her fellow-beings. 

The pastor’s wife therefore paused and corrected her- 
self, saying, “You are the very picture of health I” 

“My child, it is time to go I” cried the Baroness. 

Gisela’s eyes darkened, — her stepmother’s voice grated 
upon her very soul. The stately woman before her, with 
her kindly honest eyes, was to be dismissed in this cold 
and haughty way. 

“ I will take the strawberries home with me, Boschen,” 
Gisela said to the child, “ and to-morrow you will come 
and see me, and get the basket, will you not?” 

“ To the White Castle ?” the little one asked, opening 
wide her innocent eyes, and shaking her fair head most 
decidedly ; “no, I cannot go there,” she said resolutely. 
“ Brother Fritz says they do not love papa at the White 
Castle.” 

There was nothing to be said to this. Frau von Her- 
beck hated the man, and Gisela did not know him. The 
countenance of the pastor’s wife grew very grave, 
although she still gazed most kindly at the young girl, 
who was silent from confusion. 

The mother took her child by the hand to pursue her 
way, the ladies drew on their gloves, and Frau von 
Herbeck, with much ostentation, ordered one of the foot- 
men to throw her lace shawl over her shoulders. 

And although the beautiful aristocratic lady sitting 

N n 


194 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


there, had once eaten her bread, and found shelter be- 
neath her roof, the pastor’s wife^was too proud and pos- 
sessed too much tact to recognize her, as the two black 
eyes were evidently conscious of everything except her 
presence. 

The direct path led tolerably near to the breakfast- 
table, — ^the pastor’s wife coiirtesied politely in passing ; 
the ladies returned her salute by a slight inclination of 
the head, and the Minister lifted his hat. Whether it 
were that the sunbeam that fell upon his brow lent a 
genial glow to his rigid features, or that the glance from 
beneath his half-closed eyelids was really gentler and 
kinder than usual, — certain it is, the woman suddenly 
stood still before him. 

^‘Your Excellency,” she said modestly, yet without 
the smallest fear or embarrassment in her clear, sonorous 
voice, “chance conducted me hither, — I should not have 
gone to the White Castle ; but here in the wide forest, 
where the air belongs to all, words flow easier from the 
lips. You must not think that I come to beg, we are 
poor, but we all know how to labour, thank God I honestly, 
— I only wish to ?isk wherefore my husband is retired?” 

“ You had better ask that question of your husband 
himself,” said the Minister. 

“Ah, your Excellency, I would rather apply at once to 
the proper person, — I cannot ask my husband, for I know 
if he tells the truth, he must say, ‘ I am a true man, 
humble before God and fearless before my fellow-men, 
zealous and rigid in the fulfilment of my duty, and faith- 
ful in spirit, and I can only wonder at this strange world 
where those are punished who have not sinned ’ ” 

“Restrain your tongue, woman,” the Minister inter- 
rupted her, raising a warning finger. 

Erau von Herbeck giggled maliciously, and repeated, 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


195 


as if to herself, “ Zealous and rigid in the performance 
of duty!” To have mingled directly in the conversation 
would have been a transgression of the rules of etiquette. 

That scornful laugh pierced the heart of the pastor’s 
wife like a stab from a knife, — the rebellious blood 
mounted into her cheeks, and her fair brows contracted 
in a frown, — but this woman never lost her self-control. 

Madame,” she said, turning quietly to the lady, “ you 
should not laugh so, — you make me almost believe that 
what the Neuenfeld people say is true, — that it is 
through your influence that my husband has lost his 
office, — persecution does not become a woman.” 

Away went all regard for etiquette upon the part of 
the governess! There was far. more anger and scorn at 
her command as the servant of the Lord, than as the 
aristocratic woman of the world. 

“ What do I care for your opinion ?” she cried. “ Be- 
lieve what you please, — I shall most certainly not be 
withheld from crushing adders wherever I find them.” 

“ Frau von Herbeck — you forget .yourself,” interrupted 
the Minister, extending- his white hand imperiously 
towards her. 

“ My good woman, long explanations are against my 
principles,” he said turning again to the pastor’s wife 
with all the annihilating frigidity of a master — “I 
should have a great deal to do if I were obliged to 
enter into an exhaustive justification of all my measures. 
Thus much I will say, however, ihat the zeal in the ful- 
filment of duty of which you speak has left much to desire. 
We did our best to induce your husband to alter his 
course, but in vain. He has obstinately persisted in op- 
posing every reform that we would have introduced in 
church matters, and now the reason of his conduct is ap- 
parent, — the study of the heavenly bodies is far more 


196 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


interesting to him than the study of the ancient fathers 
of the church, — and we can employ no pastor, my good 
woman, who rides such a hobby ” 

“ And the pastor of Bodenbach who is regularly sent 
for from his bee-hives when it is time for him to preach V' 
interrogated the pastor’s wife, as her clear blue' eyes 
were riveted upon his Excellency’s marble countenance. 

He arose, and tapped her upon the shoulder with an 
insolent smile. 

“ Aha ! my very good woman,” said he, “ the pastor of 
Bodenbach has the emblem of the church constantly 
before him in his bee-hive, — the same regulations will be 
observed there as long as bees exist, — the queens and the 
workers will always obey them without resistance. I 
assure you the pastor of Bodenbach is the truest shep- 
herd that we know of, — he does not meddle with what 
does not concern him !” 

“ 0 merciful Heaven ! then it is true !” cried the pastor’s 
wife, clasping her hands. “And for fear the stars should 
not prove to be what the Bible represents them, we must 
be forbidden to look at them ! We must believe that the 
Almighty Father kindles lights in the skies every even- 
ing only for the sake of his creatures upon this earth I 
We must declare white to be black, and two and two to 
be five 1 And after we have done all this, what has it to 
do with the teachings of our Lord and Saviour? Do you 
not deny God’s wisdom and omniscience when you dis- 
parage his works for the sake of the dead letter ?” 

She sighed profoundly, and continued : 

“Will not the Bible always be a living fountain of 
consolation and guidance, although human error may 
sometimes misinterpret it ? — Whoever has gone to’ it in 
sorrow knows that its comfort is eternal. Those who 
tremble for its letter do not know its spirit. I am only 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


197 


a simple woman, your Excellency, but I always under 
stood that the comparison of the shepherd and the flock 
was illustrated by the tie of Christian love, not by the 
rod of the shepherd and the pen in which the flock is 
confined, — and thus my husband fills his pulpit, and his 
congregation really love him ; and when he speaks of the 
wondrous works of God, which he studies in the silent 
night, you can hear a pin drop in the spacious church — 

Until then all had listened silently, but at this moment 
Erau von Herbeck laughed aloud. 

“ And the old skeptic, the soldier Sievert, assists him 
with these studies in the silent night I A fine associate 
for a servant of the Lord 1’^ she cried in a kind of 
cruel triumph. “ The woman is judged out of her own 
mouth, your Excellency; she is a thorough rationalist.’’ 

“ Do not malign old Sievert to me, madame 1” rejoined 
the pastor’s wife, knitting her brows and stretching out 
her hand with a gesture of remonstrance towards the 
lady, — she entirely ignored the malicious attack upon 
herself. “ He is a good man, — whose life has been one 
long sacrifice ; he has far more religion in his heart than 
have many others who carry it upon their foreheads 
and lipsi I know him well, for he has been an inmate 
of my house since the death of the gallant young over- 
seer, He came to us then almost wild with sorrow, and 
found comfort at the parsonage. And now, after eleven 
years, when no one ever thinks of that terrible dis- 
aster ” 

A sudden pallor appeared on the countenance of the 
Baroness, and the spoon which she had been playing 
with mechanically, fell back jingling into her cup, — but 
those sparkling black eyes gazed menacingly at the 
speaker, — the Minister came to her assistance. 

" My good woman, you began to speak like a book,” 

n* 


198 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


he interrupted the pastor’s wife ironically, as if he had 
no ears for her last words. He shrugged his shoulders, 
and continued, “ I am sorry so much pains should be 
lost, but I can do nothing; matters must take their 
course ” 

“ I require nothing, your Excellency, nothing at all I” 
she answered, taking her child’s little hand firmly in her 
own again. “ ’Tis true that it will be very hard for us all 
to leave this Neuenfeld valley, where we have for 
twenty-one years shared the prosperity and adversity, 
joys and sorrows, of so many whom we loved and 
trusted ” 

“No, you shall not go away!” cried Gisela, stepping 
up to the woman, — her brown eyes glowed, — at this mo- 
ment they looked almost darker than her stepmother’s 
beautiful black orbs, which were riveted upon her face in 
speechless rage. “ Come to me — to Greinsfeld, ” she 
said firmly. 

“ Countess !” cried Frau von Herbeck, sinking back in 
her chair and clasping her hands. 

“ Have no fear, madame,” said the pastor’s wife to the 
horrified governess, smiling gently, and cordially pressing 
Gisela’s offered hand. “ I would not for her own sake 
take the Countess at her word, — God bless her kind heart I 
She shall never have an unhappy hour upon my ac- 
count! But I must say one word more to you, Frau 
von Herbeck,” and she raised her forefinger seriously, 
almost solemnly. “ The man whom you have crushed 
like an adder is going. He is deprived of his vocation, 
and that is a harder blow for him than if he should suf- 
fer want. This is just the time when you can dare every- 
thing, for you are under powerful protection ! But do not 
think that because now you trample upon the truth it will 
always be thus. Look at Neuenfeld, — the spirit which 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


199 


you would crush to earth is increasing there hourly. 
Though you should strike it down with clubs, you can- 
not vanquish it, for its life is eternal, — it is one with the 
love that is Christianity. Exalt the old devil and the 
hell of a worn-out superstition, oppose him boldly to 
God himself, build him a throne even higher than the 
one upon which the Almighty is seated, — all will 
avail you nothing, — you cannot resuscitate a corpse I” 

She courtesied to the Minister and the young 
Countess, and departed. 

II is Excellency looked after her without a word, — her 
insolence really transcended all bounds, — and he could 
not even punish the woman, — for her husband could not 
be retired again. It looked very much like a defeat, — 
but such cases were always just what his Excellency had 
foreseen and desired. Therefore he seated himself com- 
posedly, and relighted his cigar. 

Frau von Herbeck, whose white lips quivered with an- 
ger, secretly regarded him with malicious eyes, — in such 
a moment as this his famous diplomatic repose was very 
much out of place 1 

“ A most impudent woman the Baroness exclaimed 
angrily. “Are you going to let that pass unpunished, 
Fleury?’’ 

“Of what consequence is it? — let her go!” he replied 
contemptuously. 

He leaned back comfortably in his chair and blew several 
blue rings of smoke from his lips, meanwhile measuring 
his daughter with a sarcastic smile from head to foot, as 
sne stood before him, evidently greatly agitated. 

“Well, my daughter,” he said ironically, “you were 
about to revive your old rights at Greinsfeld for the bene- 
fit of the banished pastor, eh ? Toleration is an excellent 
thing, — ^but it would be both new and piquant if the 


200 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Catholic Countess Sturm should have mass read by a 
Protestant divine I” 

Gisela pressed her clasped hands to her heart as if to 
stay its throbbing. 

“I never thought of that, papal” she replied in stifled 
tones, — “ I only wished to give the poor exiles a home 
and a future free from anxiety I” 

“ Yery magnanimous, my child,” sneered his Excel- 
lency ; “ although rather extraordinary, since it is I who 
exile them, as you are pleased to express it.” 

“ Oh my dear Countess, were you really befooled by 
that tissue of lies ?” cried Frau von Herbeck. 

At this spiteful speech the young girl entirely lost her 
hardly acquired self-control. 

“Tissue of lies?” she repeated, and her eyes fairly 
flamed. “ The woman spoke truth 1 Every word she 
said touched my* inmost heart I How childishly docile 
and ignorant I have been hitherto I I have looked upon 
men and things with your eyes, Frau von Herbeck. I 
was thoughtless and blind. I reproach myself bitterly 1” 

She ceased suddenly, — her lips shut closely. She de- 
tested all violent outbreaks, — and yet now words streamed 
from her lips, — the sound of them fell upon her heart and 
carried her away, — that must not be. She pressed her 
hands upon her temples, then took up her hat. 

“ Papa, I am distressed,” she said, in a voice which 
had already regained its natural sweetness. “ May I 
walk in the forest alone for awhile ?” 

The Minister seemed to make the same allowance for 
his ‘ distressed ’ stepdaughter that he used to make for the 
sick child. He did not interrupt her by word or gesture, 
and now consented to her request by a kind and fatherly 
wave of his hand. 

She walked across the meadow and entered tl e forest 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


201 


^‘You are grown old, Frau von Herbeck,” his Efccel 
’ency said pitilessly to the astounded governess, as the 
blue dress vanished among the trees. “ Other reins are 
needed here I’’ 


CHAPTER XY. 

Gisela walked to the shore of the lake. She held her 
straw hat in her right hand, while with her left she 
gently grasped the soft young twigs of the underwood 
and let them glide through her fingers. The light breeze 
of morning, that played softly through her fair hair, also 
rippled the glittering surface of the lake that looked as 
if it were sprinkled thick with fluttering, sparkling little 
birds. 

In the boughs above her a shy bird was chirping 
its single melodious note, — and a startled frog, that had 
been sunning its speckled body upon a stone bleaching 
upon the beach, sprang splash into the water, — all else 
upon the lake and among the trees was utterly silent, 
only the humble-bee, his little body all mottled with the 
yellow pollen of the flowers, was buzzing in the high 
grass, his monotonous hum adding a dreamy charm to 
the forest repose. 

The young girl’s eyes were veiled, — she held commu- 
nion with herself. The simple pastor’s wife had shaken 
the soil upon which she had hitherto planted so firm 
a foot. Her life had been passed surrounded only by 
cold, calculating intellects. Whenever her heart had as- 
serted itself those three people whom she had just left on 


202 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


the forest-meadow had invoked the shade of her grand- 
mother, and the world of feeling within her had been 
repressed and closely locked up again with ' It does not 
become you !’ 

‘ The spirit at Neuenfeld is one with the love that is 
Christianity!^ That was what the pastor’s wife had 
said. The young girl had lived nearly eighteen years in 
the world and had never really loved a human being. 
In her grandmother she had, ever since she could remem- 
ber, done homage to her most exalted ideal ; but, even 
as a child, she had never been possessed by a desire to 
throw her little arms around the haughty woman’s beau- 
tiful white neck, — even now her heart throbbed at the 
thought of how such a ‘liberty’ would have been re- 
ceived. And as she passed in review before her mind’s 
eye those with whom her young life had been spent, — his 
Excellency, with his cold smile and imperative glance, — • 
her beautiful stepmother, — her little, fat, pietistic gov- 
erness, — the physician, — Lena, — she shuddered at the 
cold hostility with which she had always regarded them, 
— and it never could be otherwise 1 

She had called herself thoughtless and blind, and she 
was right in so doing. She had loved her cat tenderly, 
she could press a lovely flower to her lips with fervour, but 
it had never occurred to her to ask whether there were 
human beings whom she might so love I Involuntarily, 
almost to her own terror, the mysterious flower in her 
heart had unfolded itself a few moments before, — she 
could have thrown herself into the arms of that coura- 
geous, strong woman, and begged her, “Ah, love me 
too !” 

Love reigned in Neuenfeld. It built houses for the 
needy, gave them spiritual and material comfort, and 
made their lives bright with sunlight ; it took orphans 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


203 


into its arms, and was father and mother to them ; and 
the man who had wrought this labour of love on German 
soil was a foreigner, while she, the wealthy heiress, daily 
drove by the miserable hovels of her Greinsfeld tenantry, 
and saw their wretched, ragged children, undisturbed in 
the conviction that had been fostered in her from child* 
hood that it must be so, and could not be altered. 

The man in the forest-house, with the gloomy brow 
and enigmatical eyes, was right in despising her, "ight 
in rejecting the miserable pittance offered so haughtily in 
her name by her governess. 

For a moment Gisela stood still, almost breathless, 
her face flushed, and her heart throbbed so wildly that she 
seemed to hear it. She recalled the moment when he 
had recoiled from her, at the thought of the nervous in- 
firmity attributed to her, she remembered the speechless 
admiration in his eyes as he looked at her stepmother^s 
beautiful face. 

She was no longer walking on the shore of the lake, 
she had penetrated deep into the forest. The song was 
hushed, and the humming bees were buried in the flower- 
cups upon the sunny shore. The little opening, where 
around the breakfast-table sparkling with silver sat those 
who were probably now criticising the unseemly be- 
haviour of the Countess Sturm, lay far behind her. 

Suddenly she lifted her head and listened. The crying 
of a child, although probably at a considerable distance, 
fell upon her ear. It sounded so forsaken, so helpless, and 
so continuously, that there could surely be no voice at 
hand to soothe it. 

i Gisela instantly gathered up her dress and ran through 
the thicket, directly towards the spot whence the sound 
proceeded. Just in the forest-path leading from Neuen- 
feld to A , at the foot of a be^ch-tree, she found a 


204 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


j^roman lying with closed eyes, seeming more dead than 
alive. 

She was one of a class, called in that country Por- 
celain women, who travel for their bread from year’s end 
to year’s end. They buy at a cheap rate the defective 
articles in the porcelain factories high up in the mount- 
ains of Thuringia, and carry them upon their backs for 
many a weary mile, that they may sell them at a small 
profit among the country-people. With their heavy bas- 
kets on their backs, and carrying their infants in their 
arms, while larger children are often seen running by 
their side, these wretched sufferers toil on through wind 
and storm, more wretched than beasts of burden, for they 
do not suffer alone : they see their children starving and 
freezing. 

Evidently this woman had fainted from exhaustion. 
Her basket of ware was at her side, and the baby, whose 
cries Gisela had heard, a boy about eight months old, 
was rolling in her lap. The child’s eyes were red and 
swollen with crying, but he ceased as soon as Gisela 
approached. 

The young lady looked with distress at the unconscious 
woman, and, trembling, took the lifeless, cold hands be- 
tween her own. She must and would lend aid here, — biJ 
how? There was no obsequious lackey near, whofte 
duty it was to know what should be done in such a case, 
— there was no human voice, not a footstep to be heard, — . 
she had no smelling-salts, not even a glass of fresh water. 
And besides, she was now in apart of the forest quite rew 
to her, — in her solitary rambles she had never gone be- 
yond the shore of the lake, — there was nothing to be 
done but to run to the distant forest-meadow. 

Just then she seemed to hear the splashing of a 
fountain. She penetrated the underwood, and the sound 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


205 


grew louder. On the right she discovered a narrow 
path through the bushes, — she entered it without hesita- 
tion, — it must surely lead to some human abode. 

The child, left alone, screamed loudly again as she van- 
ished. She hurried on faster, and suddenly the leaping 
fountain before the forest-house appeared. She started, 
and involuntarily retreated a few paces. 

In that gray old house, all woven over by green vines, 
* half the palace of a fairy prince and half the den of a 
northern barbarian,’ dwelt the Portuguese ; he might 
issue from the open door at any moment. For all the 
world she would not again encounter those eyes that had 
gazed upon her so coldly and disapprovingly a few days 
before, — and to-day had turned from her with such aver- 
sion. 

There gushed the refreshing stream that she was so 
anxiously seeking, but in its murmur and plash she 
seemed to hear a stern, gloomy voice of warning, — every 
one of the shining drops fell chillingly upon her heart ; 
she shuddered, — but the piteous cries of the child urged 
her forward. 

She left the forest, and started at the sound of the 
gravel crunching beneath her light tread. Deathlike 
silence reigned about the house, — ^the sunlight glittered 
u])on the plate-glass of the windows, and the hanging 
shoots of the Aristolochia swayed to and fro in the 
light breeze, — no human face was to be seen Perhaps 
the master of the house was at Neuenfeld, — he was 
always occupied. One of the servants would certainly 
hasten with her to the relief of the poor woman. 

Encouraged by these thoughts, she went on to the foot 
of the steps leading up to the terrace, but she suddenly 
retreated with a low cry, — the parrot, which had hitherto 
been perfectly silent, uttered a discordant croak, and the 

18 


206 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


diminutive, chattering monkey sprang down from his 
favourite resting-place. All at once everything around 
her seemed to start into life. 

Her cry must have been heard in the house, — an old 
man, with bright keen eyes, stepped out of the hall, — 
but at sight of Gisela stood still upon the terrace, as if 
rooted to the spot. 

The young heiress had had small opportunity for the 
study of physiognomy, but she was immediately con- 
vinced that the man who stood there was gazing at 
her with the look of an angry enemy. Hate and a ter- 
rified surprise were pictured upon his stern face. He 
stretched out his large bony hands forbiddingly towards 
her, and cried harshly : 

“ What do you want ? There is nothing for you in this 
house I It has nothing more to do with Zweiflingens or 
Fleurys I” He motioned towards the narrow path through 
the forest with his left hand. “ Yonder lies the path to 
the Arnsberg domain I” he added, as though determined 
to believe that she had wandered hither by mistake and 
lost her way. 

The young girl looked up, with startled eyes, as if 
stiffened to stone, at the strange old man. Some dim 
memory of her childhood arose in her mind, — she seemed 
to be thrust away from the threshold of the forest-house 
for the second time in her life. For a moment she was 
utterly terrified ; but not in vain was the proud blood of 
the Sturms and Ydlderns coursing in her veins: it now 
mounted to her head, and although she would have rather 
turned and hastened back into the forest, she found 
courage to maintain an apparent composure. 

She looked haughtily at the old man, and the corners 
of her mouth were wreathed with the same supercilious, 
disdainful smile with which the Countess Ydldern had 
been wont to crush the hopes of many a heart. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


207 


“I never intended to enter this house,” she said, 
turning her back upon him, — she meant to walk slowly 
away, — but could she leave without the aid she had 
come to ask ? It cost her a struggle to look back again 
at the face of that terrible man, — but she did it, — the 
lesson of love that her heart had received to-day was 
not to be forgotten. 

“Ask your master for a glass with which I can 
procure some water there she said, pointing towards 
the fountain as she spoke in the same imperious tone 
which she used to the servants at the White Castle. 

“ Holla, Frau Berger I” the man called back into the 
house, without stirring from the spot where he was 
standing, — he looked as though the threshold were to be 
guarded by a fiery sword. 

A tall woman in a white cap and apron, apparently 
the housekeeper, appeared in the background of the 
hall. 

“A tumbler I” the old man cried out to her. 

She vanished again. 

“What is the matter, Sie vert?” the voice of the 
Portuguese was suddenly heard to. ask. 

The old soldier was evidently startled, — it seemed as 
if he were guarding the door so closely for the sake of 
the man within. He extended his hand towards the 
house with a warning gesture, — but the Portuguese was 
already standing in the doorway. 

He looked pale, — ‘white as a sheet with sorrow for 
the dog,^ the servant had declared a little while before. 
But when his eyes encountered Gisela, who, still wrapped 
in her pride as in a garment, was standing at the foot 
of the steps, his brown manly face glowed. At that 
moment of sudden surprise, his look denoted anything 
but aversion, — ^the stamp of misanthropy upon his brow 


208 


COUNTESS G IS EL A. 


seemed indelible, it is true, but the eyes sparkled with a 
flash of strange brilliancy. 

Beneath his glance Gisela’s bearing was immediately 
altered. Almost unconsciously she dropped her shield 
of defiance, and suddenly stood there as she was, a timid 
young girl asking for aid. She raised her hands as if in 
entreaty towards him. 

At this gesture the old soldier lost all control of 
himself. 

“ Take care, sir,” he cried, laying his hand warn- 
ingly upon the arm of the Portuguese. “ There she 
is, in flesh and blood I All that is wanting is the 
little crimson serpent upon her neck, — in all else she 
stands there now, the arch-hypocrite I with her white 
face and long hair 1 Just so she raised her hands, and 
my master was a lost man I She may be mouldering in 
the ground, and her cursed hands may be powerless to 
work mischief, but her race still lives 1” He pointed to 
the young girl, who had grown deadly pale, — the old 
man stood there upon the terrace, like an Old Testament 
Prophet, who had just invoked curses from his God. 
“ She is not one whi.t better,” he continued in a louder 
tone ; “ her heart is as hard as marble ! She is cold as a 
stone to her people, — and cares not a jot though the 
human beings around her faint and die with hunger I 
They pray for the poor at Arnsberg and Greinsfeld, but 
no one thinks of feeding them I Do not let her cross the 
threshold 1 Wherever one of her race steps a foot, mis- 
fortune is sure to follow I” 

The young Countess clasped her trembling hands over 
her face and fled, — but in a moment she felt herself 
detained ; the Portuguese stood before her, and gently 
drew her hands away from her eyes. 

He started at sight of her blanched cheeks and the 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


209 


ejes that opened wide upon him in terror. Perhaps he 
felt an emotion of pity, — he held her hands firmly, and 
even drew them directly towards him, as if to take them 
protectingly to his breast ; but suddenly he let them drop 
with the same look with which he had previously re- 
coiled from her in the forest-meadow. 

“You were asking for something. Countess; I saw it 
in your face,” he said in an uncertain voice, — “may I 
not hear what it was ?” 

Gisela hurriedly concealed her rejected hands in the 
folds of her muslin dress. 

“ There is a poor woman lying in the forest,” she 
whispered almost with a gasp. “ She has apparently 
fallen down faint with hunger. I came to this house to 
seek help for her.” 

Then with downcast eyes she passed him by and went 
towards the wood. She was completely crushed — the old 
man’s accusations had struck her like blows from a club. 
Was this the same young creature who, two days before, 
had recounted all her high-sounding titles with such 
haughty emphasis, evidently in the conviction that her 
lofty rank would stand her in stead under all circum- 
stances? Where was the proud blood of the Counts 
of Sturm and Voldern, which had just flushed her very 
temples, and given her countenance such a stamp of arro- 
gance ? Their pride was compounded of ambition, love 
of rule, and egptisra, — it rebelled against the faintest in- 
fringement of its prerogatives ; but now before the noble 
voice of conscience it fell silent, and collapsed with all its 
hollow pretensions. 

During Gisela’s absence the poor woman had regained 
her consciousness. She looked at the young lady as she 
approached, but could not speak, and was utterly unable 
to rise. The child was soothed by the sight of his 
O 18* 


210 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


mother’s open eyes, — he had ceased crying, and was 
childishly stroking her pale face with his little fat 
hands. 

Gisela heard footsteps approaching from the forest- 
house. She knew fhat aid was at hand, and was about 
to depart without even turning her head, for through all 
the humiliation that she was suffering her woman’s 
pride asserted itself. Even if the Neuenfeld philanthro- 
pist had every reason to judge her harshly, he should 
not have allowed his servant to insult her. And he had 
not interrupted the old man’s anathemas by a single 
syllable, — evidently it had all accorded with his own 
convictions, and although he had perhaps been overcome 
by compassion for an instant, he had thought the lesson 
to the hard-hearted Countess Sturm all right, and had 
not attempted to soften it in any way. 

So the young girl’s heart swelled with bitterness, and, 
mastered by her emotion, she turned away from the 
unfortunate woman as the Portuguese approached fol- 
lowed by Sievert. The old soldier was bringing food 
and drink upon a waiter; but scarcely did the child 
catch sight of the severe, bearded features when he 
shrieked loudly, and hid his face, trembling with fear, 
upon his mother’s breast. 

Gisela stayed her steps, — the helpless mother’s eyes 
turned anxiously towards her ; she instantly compre- 
hended their mute entreaty and turned back. She 
plucked a few strawberries growing in the path and 
held them out to the child, who smiled amid his tears, 
and quietly let her take him in her arms. This single 
moment redeemed her whole loveless past, although she 
knew it not. She yielded all her right of retaliation for 
the sake of mercy and compassion. 

This evidently did not occur to the Portuguese, — he 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


211 


seized the child as if to take it from her, while his darh 
eyes gazed searchingly into her face. 

“ That does not become you, Countess Sturm !” he 
said, — how severe that oft-heard phrase sounded from 
his lips ! His voice had the same icy tone with the 
same mixture of contempt that had characterized it two 
days before. “You do not keep your wordl” he con- 
tinued. “ I heard you promise the day before yesterday 
not to forget yourself thus again. You are entering the 
dangerous path of concealment, for, you cannot possibly 
mention at the White Castle that you have had this 
child in your arms.” 

He reminded her of the time when for one moment of 
weakness she had been ashamed of the little innocent 
group in her boat, and had admitted by her promise that 
she shared the unkind prejudices of her rank. He had 
been an unseen witness of the scene; but in his harsh 
manner of reminding her of it he betrayed all the hos- 
tility attributed to him by Frau von Herbeck, — and this 
excited the defiance of the young girl, who had not yet 
recovered from her previous irritation. 

“ I shall know how to justify my actions 1” she replied 
proudly, and put her left arm more closely around the 
child. 

He stepped aside, and bent over the woman. His 
exertions were without result, — he poured wine between 
her lips and rubbed her hands and temples with harts- 
horn, — but she had been starving too long, she was en- 
tirely unable either to rise or to speak. 

Any hesitation seemed foreign to this man,— he sud- 
denly lifted the sufferer in his arms and carried her 
towards the forest-house. 

How firm and yet how elastic was his tread! What a 
difierence there was between him who Ihus supported 


212 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


misery in his strong arms, and took it compassionately 
to his breast, and the man in the White Castle ! His 
Excellency besprinkled himself and everything around 
him with odorous and purifying essences, whenever he 
was approached by a ‘ person’ upon whom want had set 
its seal. 


CHAPTER XYL 

And now Gisela was standing upon the same spot 
whence she had just fled horror-stricken. She had 
silently followed the hurrying men, magnetically at- 
tracted by the poor woman’s eyes, that had turned to- 
wards her child and never ceased to gaze upon him. 
The sufferer was carried into the house, and the young 
lady waited outside with a throbbing heart for some one 
to relieve her of the child. 

How excellently she performed her part ! She sought 
to amuse the child with the monkey and the parrot, and 
carried him to the fountain. The girl in her flowing 
transparent blue dress, and her fair waving hair, stood 
in her bewitching loveliness by the fountain’s rim like an 
alluring water nymph, and the charm of her appearance 
f'ompleted the fairy-like enchantment that hovered around 
the forest-house. 

At last the Portuguese came out upon the terrace, fol- 
lowed by his housekeeper. The woman evidently had 
no idea who had the child that she was to take, and at 
siffht of Gisela came hurriedly down the steps. She 
.jourtesied lowly and reverentially. 

“ But, gracious Countess, that is no work for vou to 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


2ib 


do I The dirty, heavy little fellow I” she cried, and 
reached out her arms for the child. But in vain. The 
boy threw both his arms around Gisela’s neck and turned 
away screaming. 

“ Be quiet, be quiet, you little rogue !” the stout, kind- 
hearted woman said soothingly, “you will frighten your 
poor mother I” 

But all attempts to entice the child away from Gisela 
were useless. Meantime the Portuguese had descended 
the steps, — the child’s clinging and crying appeared to 
excite him strangely, his eyes gleamed and rested in 
passionate agitation, even in a kind of rage, upon the 
arms that clasped the tender white throat so firmly, while 
the head was nestled among the young Countess’s masses 
of fair hair. 

The impetuous southern nature of the man was sud- 
denly manifest. He slightly stamped his foot and re- 
peatedly lifted his hand, as if to tear the obstinate little 
fellow away and trample him under foot like a reptile. 

A dark glow flushed Gisela’s cheek, — she looked to- 
wards the house, — it was evident that she was strug- 
gling with herself, — as the Portuguese extended his hand 
she clasped the child more tightly to her breast. 

“Hush I little one, I will take you to your mother,” 
she said in a tone firm, but at once sweet and soothing, 
as she walked across the gravel path and up the steps. 

Sievert had watched the scene from the doorway. 

When Gisela stepped upon the threshold she stopped 
before him for one moment. She stood proudly erect, 
but in the way in which she inclined her fair head 
there was the tenderest expression of childlike innocence 
and maidenly consciousness. 

“Have no fear,” she said, and her lips slightly quiv- 
ered. ‘ Even though misfortune follows my footsteps, as 


214 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


you say, at this moment it can have no power, — for mercy 
directs my feet.” 

The old soldier, perhaps for the first time in his life, 
cast down his eyes before a human being, and the young 
girl entered the hall. 

The housekeeper, who followed her, opened a door lead- 
ing into the room in the southern tower. There, upon a 
camp-bed enveloped in clean soft wrappings, lay the poor 
woman, stretching out her arms towards her child, whose 
screams she must have heard. Gisela placed the boy on 
the bed ; her hand was caught in a weak grasp ; the suf- 
ferer put it to her pale weary lips. The poor despised 
creature never dreamed of the sacrifice that had just been 
made for her by the high-born maiden at her side. 

The young Countess had only a dim, confused remem- 
brance of the stormy night when she had taken refuge 
with her stepfather in the old forest-house, — everything 
bad been done to blot the circumstance from her recollee,- 
tion. She did not recognize the room again ; she did not 
know that at this moment she was standing upon th(5 
very spot where once the strange old blind woman had 
thrust her little hand away from her so angrily. Conse- 
quently the memory of that fearful moment could not 
occur to affect her. Nevertheless, her heart seemed to 
stand still in an inexplicable anxiety. 

She glanced around the room ; the impression that its 
thick walls and deep window recesses conveyed was joy- 
less and gloomy. There stood shabby old furniture, such 
as would not have been tolerated in the servants’ rooms ' 
at the White Castle, and above it hung faded pastel pic- 
tures in black wooden frames, portraits of men and women 
in common citizen’s dress. This room must belong to the 
strange old servant, but this idea was contradicted by a 
very elegant gold watch that lay ticking upon the table, 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


215 


as well as by a writing-desk in one of the window re- 
cesses, furnished with costly writing materials. 

Above the head of the bed hung a dark curtain, and 
this it was that principally affected the young girl’s 
mind with a mysterious sense of gloom. It was hung 
there apparently more as a protection against profane 
and prying eyes than against the effect of the sun, — for 
no ray could possibly have penetrated to this corner. 
When the poor woman was laid on the bed the cord 
of this curtain had probably been pulled accidentally, 
— it was parted in the centre very slightly, but suffi- 
ciently to show two eyes behind it, — two melancholy 
eyes, shaded by dark eyebrows that met, — involuntarily 
suggesting to the spectator a tragic destiny. Gisela had 
certainly seen that wondrously handsome, melancholy 
face with its soft, fair beard and moustache, many years 
before, perhaps in one of those books of heroic legends, 
with coloured plates, which she had so loved as a child. 
There was something unearthly in the expression of the 
features, — either this man had never had any actual ex- 
istence, or the artist had wonderfully depicted on the 
canvas a mortal career. 

This portrait, half veiled as it was, and the old-fash- 
ioned furniture, made the gloomy room a repository, 
as it were, of relics. Gisela imagined that she inhaled 
with the air a fagrance as of faded flowers, — it seemed 
to her that, in lonely hours, one might sometimes catch 
low whisperings here from a dim past. 

She hastily took all the money which she had with 
her from her purse, laid it upon the bed of the sick 
woman, and bidding her come to Arnsberg as soon as 
she was able, that, her child might be cared for, left the 
room. 

Id the hall she started at sight of a stuffed tiger 


216 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


crouching upon the ground, with his head upon his fore- 
paws, seeming to stare angrily at her, — the shaggy skins 
beneath her feet, and the bright weapons upon the wall, 
glancing in the sunlight, all seemed strange and foreign 
like the master of the house himself. And there, within 
the half-open door of an opposite chamber, stood the old 
man, with stern eyes, evidently awaiting the moment 
when the intruder, ‘ whose footsteps misfortune followed,’ 
should leave the house. 

She fled through the door, out upon the terrace, where 
she laid her hand upon her throbbing heart with a deep- 
drawn sigh of relief. 

"You were frightened in my house?” asked the voice 
of the Portuguese, at her side. He had not entered the 
forest-house while she was within. 

"Yes,” she whispered, turning away and passing by 

him; "I am afraid of that old man and of ” She 

paused. 

"And of me. Countess,” he completed her sentence in 
a low peculiar tone. 

"Yes, and of you!” she said more boldly, as she 
slowly turned upon the topmost step, and met his gaze 
with maidenly reserve and yet with grave frankness. 

She then descended the steps and crossed the gravel 
path. She stood still for a moment beside the fountain, 
let the spray moisten her hands, and laid them upon her 
throbbing temples. 

"Revenge is sweet!” screamed the parrot, swinging 
wildly to and fro in his ring upon the terrace. The 
startled girl looked and saw the Portuguese, who had 
apparently intended to follow her, stand at the foot of the 
steps and look up at the bird. 

‘ Who can tell what the man’s past has been, — even 
his parrot chatters of revenge !’ her beautiful stepmother 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


217 


had said. And, indeed, there was something savage, 
uncivilized for a moment in his whole bearing. His was 
certainly a nature which could neither forget nor for- 
give, which would adopt for a motto, and follow to the 
letter, the words, — ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a 
tooth. ^ 

Her stepmother’s remark had been well calculated to 
arouse suspicion. Although the girl knew that the man 
was hostile to her, yet, at the moment when he turned 
his noble, handsome face towards her once more, she 
was conscious of a sensation of self-reproach, almost a 
pang, that she should have allowed the ambiguous re- 
mark to recur to her again. 

With a few steps he stood beside her, and holding 
out his hand, also caught some of the drops from the 
fountain. 

“Beautiful clear water, is it not?” he asked. Hith- 
erto his voice had sounded soft and melodious; now an 
evil spirit seemed to have taken possession of him at 
the hateful scream of the gaudy bird. “What won- 
drous power lies hid in such a fountain!” he con- 
tinued. “The Countess Sturm sprinkles her brow and 
hands with its waters, and the work of mercy is washed 
away with every trace of her contact with a world that 
she cannot enter 1 She can return to the White Castle 
and submit to the scrutiny of keen eyes, — no stain at- 
taches to her I” 

Gisela turned pale, and recoiled from him involun- 
tarily. 

“ How, Countess, are you still afraid?” 

“No, sir. At this moment you are only cold to me, 
not angry as before. I am afraid only of ungoverned 
anger.” 


19 


218 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


‘‘Have you ever seen me angry?” There was sur- 
prise in his tone. 

“ Should I have ever entered that house if I had not 
trembled for the helpless, unreasoning little creature in 
my arms?” she asked. And now there was outraged 
feminine pride both in look and voice. 

The two mysterious lines upon the brow of the Portu* 
guese deepened sensibly, and a slight flush appeared 
upon his brown cheeks, but the corners of his mouth 
quivered contemptuously. 

“And you really thought I should harm the poor little 
obstinate fellow?” he said. 

“Yes, sir,” replied Gisela; and in spite of her reso- 
lute bearing, her large eyes looked up in almost child- 
like innocence to the powerful man before her. “ I am 
still very inexperienced, — I do not understand how to 
read the countenances of others, for my life is very 
lonely ” 

“But you can understand anger in a human eye?” 

“Yes, — and I know too that the hand is swifter to 
obey it than any other passion.” 

His glance was fixed upon her face. 

“ How could you have discovered this dark side of 
the human soul ?” he murmured, as if to himself. And 
in truth she stood there before him pure and passionless 
as one of the figures that artists paint with palm branches 
in their hands. “And you have seen me possessed by 
such ungovernable rage ?” he added, after a momentary 
silence. 

She blushed slightly. “ I did not make use of that 
expression,” she replied. “ But as I looked at your 
eyes it seemed to me that I must have seen you 
before.” 

As if touched by an electric shock the Portuguese sud* 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


219 


denly turned away his face, so that she could not even 
see his profile. 

“ Have you ever been in Brazil, then, Countess ? For 
where else could you have encountered my eyes be- 
fore V' he asked, with forced ease of manner, as he 
seemed to be counting the falling drops from the fountain. 

This kind of nonchalance on the part of a man whose 
whole air and bearing impressed her so powerfully, and 
whose manner towards his fellow-men she admired, 
wounded her deeply. 

“ Of course I only speak of a resemblance,” she 
said, with cold reserve, — “of a resemblance that perhaps 
lies but in a momentary expression of countenance. I 
was, when a child, actually ill-used by a man in a vio- 
lent outbreak of anger. I was thinking of that when, 
but a moment ago, I — overcame myself and carried the 
boy into the house to his mother.” 

“ Had you provoked the man ?” 

“No, — certainly not intentionally. I ran out of the 
White Castle to send my new shining copper groschen” — 
a fleeting smile passed over her face at the remembrance 
of this childish act of generosity — “to the aid of the 
poor people of Neuenfeld. The man, whom I had never 
seen before, pushed me violently away, — I thought he 
meant to kill me. He called me a poor ugly little 
creature, — and there he was right. I must have been 
very weak indeed, for that one moment of fright and 
horror made me ill, and ailing for many years, — it shut 
me out from all the happiness, — all the joys of child- 
hood.” 

How touching was the gentle sorrow in the young 
girl’s clear childlike tones I 

The Portuguese had long before turned his face to 
wards her again, — there was a dark crimson line upon 


220 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


his brow, usually so fair and white, — mental agitation 
seemed to have concentrated the blood there. 

“No wonder, theii, that that moment should never be 
obliterated from your memory,” he said, in the voice 
which liad sounded before so touchingly in her ears. 
She thought his lips quivered as he asked, “ But are you 
sure that the man was moved entirely by anger? . . . . 
Who can tell but that he was suffering from a thousand 
woes?” 

Gisela bent her head thoughtfully. “ Who can tell I” 
she repeated slowly. “ They told me he was a wicked 
man, — a man who would not have hesitated to burn the 
house above our heads, — Frau von Herbeck said so, — 
and he said some very bad things to papa ” 

“ What insolence I” the Portuguese interrupted her, 
laughing hoarsely. “ I hope that his Excellency, the 
Minister, with his love for law and order, did not delay 
an instant in calling the fellow to a strict account I” 

The young Countess looked up in surprise, — the hand- 
some outline of his mouth was disfigured by an almost 
fiendish expression, — for the first time the white, firm 
teeth showed between the scornful lips. 

“ Was he not arraigned before a severe judge ?” he 
continued. “We know that in this country people hear 
with his Excellency’s ears, and speak with his Excel- 
lency’s tongue, — brave, honest people, who understand 
their position with enviable tact. What I is he not still 
in bonds and fetters, the insolent wretch — ^the probable 
incendiary ” 

“Oh, sir, not another word of him! I cannot bear 
itl” Gisela interrupted him, stretching out her hand 
entreatingly towards him. “You yourself have just 
doubted whether he alone was in fault.” She shuddered 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


221 


Blightly. The unfortunate man was drowned that very 
night I’’ 

“ He was drowned repeated the Portuguese in a 
faltering voice, — the red flush on his forehead suddenly 
vanished, — even his lips were pale. “What, Countess, 
have you any sympathy for him 

“ The deepest.” 

“ Did you never wish to have him punished ?” 

“ Never.” 

“ But he robbed you of the happiness, of the joys of 
childhood. Could you forgive that ?” 

“ That unhappy time lies behind me,” she said with a 
gentle smile, that transfigured her face for an instant. 
“ I have never spoken of the circumstance since I was a 
child, — and I did it to-day only to explain my fear and 
anxiety for my little charge.” 

She could not tell how it was, — she felt her hand seized 
and pressed by hot quivering lips, — and she was sud- 
denly standing alone by the plashing fountain, — ^the 
Portuguese had turned and hastened towards the forest- 
house without looking round. 

Almost instantly afterward the old soldier appeared 
upon the terrace and carried the parrot into the house. 
Gisela saw him go the whole length of the hall, and 
pass through the door at the end of it. He was appar- 
ently taking the screaming bird to some back building, — 
probably on account of the suffering invalid. 


19 * 


222 


COUNTESS OISELA, 


CHAPTER XVIL 

The young Countess entered one of the forest-paths 
which Sievert had designated as leading to the Arnsberg 
woods. With a deepening flush of embarrassment and 
shame she looked at her little white hand ; it had just 
been pressed, — for the first time, — by the lips of a man. 
She was always much annoyed, nay, even very angry, 
when any one insisted upon penetrating the charmed 
circle of reserve which she maintained around her; in 
any other case she would certainly have instantly 
plunged the outraged hand into the water, — but now 
she never even thought of such a purification. Where, at 
this moment, was the keen inquiring intellect which she 
usually brought to bear upon every experience of her life ? 

She did not ponder now with downcast reflecting eyes, 
— her glance sought the boughs above her. Through 
the leaves the fragrant woodland breeze breathed down 
upon her, and from a small blue oasis of sky in the golden 
green twilight sparkling shafts of sunshine quivered down 
upon the trunks of the trees to be extinguished in the cool 
variegated moss. 

Was not the blue above there sunnier than usual? 
And did not new and sweeter songs gush from the throats 
of the birds soaring over the girl’s fair head ? 

It was the same glad, rejoicing life of summer that has 
returned year after year for unnumbered centuries, and 
the fountain that leaped up at this moment in the guile 
less young heart was as old — as old as — ^love I • 

“ Oh, what a beautiful world I it looks so different 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


223 


when one — is well 1” thti girl thought, laying her hands 
upon her throbbing heart. 

The forest-meadow was deserted when Gisela reached 
it. The old lackey, Braun, was the only person there. 
He was packing the service of plate in baskets, and in- 
formed his mistress that his Excellency, in consequence 
of a telegram that had just arrived, had returned very 
hastily with the two ladies to the White Castle. 

As he told her this with a deferential bow, Gisela, for 
the first time in her life, observed the old man atten- 
tively. She could remember that he used to have black 
hair, — now it was snowy white; it had gradually 
changed before her very eyes, and she had never noticed 
it Her stepfather, too, had many a white line in his 
hair and beard ; the thought of them did not affect her 
in the least, whilst the two silvered streaks above this 
old man’s eyes, and his snowy head, suddenly created a 
touch of sympathy within her. 

“ Please to give me a glass of milk, my dear Braun,” 
she said, — how oddly it sounded from her lips, — ^involun- 
tarily she started at hearing it, — she had not been accus- 
tomed to request thus. 

The old servant looked at his mistress in utter sur- 
prise. 

“Whatl is the milk all gone?” she asked, smiling 
kindly. 

The man ran as quickly as his old legs would let him 
to his improvised sideboard, and brought her instantly 
what she asked for. 

‘‘ Only think, Braun, I do not even know whether you 
have any family,” said the young lady, putting the glass 
to her lips; she was really more embarrassed in her 
novel position than if she were treading for the first 
time the floor of a court ball, for the old man stood 


224 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


before her looking as though he expected the skies to 
fall instantly. 

“ Oh, indeed, your ladyship, it is not worth your while 
to ” he stammered. 

“But I want to know very much.’’ 

“ Oh, yes, if your ladyship kindly commands,” he said, 
reassured, while his stooping figure stood upright again. 
“ I have a wife and children. Two of my children are 
living, four lie in the church-yard. I had a little grand- 
child, — such a dear pretty little girl — ah, your ladyship, 
she was the joy of my life ” 

The old man suddenly burst into tears. 

“ Oh, what is it, Braun ?” the young girl cried in amaze- 
ment. What I could those eyes weep ? could that face, 
which had so stiffened during his years of servitude into 
the habitual serving-man’s expression, look so deeply 
distressed ? 

“ No, no, stay I” she said, as the old man, evidently 
shocked at his disrespectful outbreak of grief, was about 
to turn away, — “you must tell me what troubles you 
so.” 

“We buried the child three weeks ago,” he replied, 
and his lips quivered as he struggled to master his 
emotion. 

Gisela turned pale. 

What had the old man upon the terrace at the forest- 
house said ? * Her heart is as hard as marble I She is 

as cold as a stone to her people I’ He had been terribly 
right I This unhappy man had appeared in her pres- 
ence day after day in his gay livery, faultless in manner, 
not a whit different even upon the day when his little 
darling was lying at home in her coffin, — he had been 
obedient to his mistress’s slightest nod, and ready to 
gratify every caprice of hers, whilst repressed tears had 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


225 


glittered beneath the eyelids so respectfully cast down, 
and the heart of the poor machine was almost broken. 
Such people must know no private sorrow, although Gi- 
sela could remember how long all the servants had worn 
mourning for her grandmother. What right had the high- 
bi rn to place human beings in so unnatural a position? 
From their cold isolated heights they extended a piece 
of bread, and demanded in exchange the entire devotion 
of a human life, — a renunciation of self, of which they 
themselves were incapable. And she had hitherto been 
one of these cruel, unfeeling egotists; yes, she was ac- 
counted one of the worst of them. 

All the sympathy of her nature came to her aid now. 
She tried to comfort the old man; but the sunlight in 
her soul was darkened. She pondered upon the old 
soldier’s accusations; and, as she pursued her home- 
ward way, she wondered what wretched woman, whose 
cursed hands ‘ were mouldering in the ground,’ he could 
have compared her to. She was far, very far from the 
solution of that riddle. What had the lovely white 
hands of her blessed grandmother to do with working 
woe ? — how could she connect her in any way with the 
‘arch-hypocrite’? 

She reached the White Castle greatly depressed. 

The multitude of workmen, and sweeping and dusting 
maid-servants, who had manifested such noisy activity 
since yesterday, now seemed plunged into a state of 
feverish agitation. Their hurrying to and fro was no 
longer confined to the wing appropriated to guests. On 
the ground-floor, on each side of the vestibule, the fold- 
ing-doors were wide open, and upholsterers, gardeners, 
and maids were busy in the long suites of rooms. 

Above, in the first room that the young Countess en- 
ered, Lena was standing, with flushed cheeks, in the 
P 


226 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


midst of huge mountains of dresses and linen, packing 
various trunks,— an under-gardener was pulling to pieces 
the tables of flowers to rearrange them, and the daylight 
poured in dazzlingly through the high window^, from 
which the silk curtains had been taken to have the dust 
shaken out of them. 

Before Lena could say a word in answer to the ques- 
tioning look of her young mistress, as she stood upon the 
threshold, the Minister and Frau von Herbeck appeared 
from a side door. He was in a great hurry evidently, 
and had a pencil and note-book in his hand, with which 
to assist himself in such a trying and busy time. 

“Ah, my dear child,” he cried out to Gisela, suddenly 
dropping the cold, formal ‘ my daughter,’ and again be- 
coming the tender, caressing parent of former times. 
“ My darling child, in what an embarrassing position do 
I find myself with regard to you ! The Prince tele- 
graphed me half an hour ago that he should arrive at 
Arnsberg to-morrow evening, and with a far more numer- 
ous suite than he had at first proposed I I am almost beside 
myself, for I am forced, — oh Heavens, how painful this 
whole matter is to me I” he interrupted himself, distract- 
edly, making a motion with his hand as though to ward 
off some disagreeable contretemps. 

Frau von Herbeck very readily and skilfully came to 
his assistance. 

“ But, good Heavens I your Excellency has no cause 
for annoyance I” she cried. “ Our Countess is perfectly 
reasonable!” She turned to Gisela, and pointed to Lena. 
“ You can easily guess what this means, my dear Count- 
ess! Pray reassure his Excellency, your papa. You 
see how distressed he is to be obliged to request you to 
remove from Arnsberg for a few days! The castle is 
far too small for the numerous guests. Of course we 


COUNTESS GISELA. 22t 

will withdraw during the bustle of the Prince’s visit, 
and drive to Greinsfeld to-day.” 

Qisela was startled. Why should her heart sink so 
at the thought of having to leave Arnsberg? Uncon- 
sciously to herself almost, a misty vision of the fairy- 
like forest-house flitted swiftly before her. 

“ I am ready to go at any moment, papa,” she never- 
theless said with her usual composure. 

“You understand, my child, that I only yield to an 
imperative necessity ?” the Minister asked tenderly. 

“ Perfectly, papa.” 

“ Oh how grateful I am to you, Gisela ! And now set 
the crown to your kindness and forbearance, and forgive 
your mamma and me that we cannot offer you any dinner 
to-day. Mamma is closeted with Mademoiselle Cecile, 
and buried in heaps of dresses. She will dine in her 
own room, and I have not a moment of time to sit down 
at the table. I have already sent your cook to Greins- 
feld. You will find there upon your arrival every com- 
fort that is possible in such haste.” 

“ Then it is only necessary to order the carriage,” said 
Gisela. “ Lena, will you be kind enough to do it ?” 

The maid looked thunderstruck at the ‘ kind enough,’ 
and Frau von Herbeck stood literally with her mouth 
wide open, as she glanced disdainfully at the girl thus 
addressed. 

Gisela unconcernedly tied the strings of her hat be- 
neath her chin, and put on the gloves which upon her 
entrance she had taken off, — she looked very ready 
to go. 

“ But you will certainly see mamma first, will you 
not, my child?” asked the Minister, entirely ignoring the 
sudden gracious change in his stepdaughter’s manner. 
“ Only think, my little darling, the Prince may possibly 


228 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


stay more than a week, and during all that long time we 
must know that you are so near and yet not be able to 
see you once I” 

“ You can, if you choose, make an expedition to Greins- 
feld, papa I” the girl rejoined quietly. “ Frau von Herbeck 
tells me that during grandmamma’s lifetime the Prince 
was frequently at Greinsfeld.” 

The weary eyelids suddenly drooped low over his 
Excellency’s eyes ; but his pale lips were wreathed into 
a disdainful smile of compassion. 

“My dear, that is a most childish idea,” he said. 
“ What should his Highness do at the house of an un- 
formed girl of seventeen, — forgive me, my daughter,— 
who has not yet been presented ” 

“The occasion might afford an opportunity for my 
presentation,” Gisela interrupted him with some feeling. 
“ Grandmamma, who was exceedingly rigid in her ideas 
concerning the privileges of our rank and its duties, 
would be very much surprised that it has not yet taken 
place. She was not quite sixteen when she was pre- 
sented at court.” 

The Minister shrugged his shoulders with peculiar 
significance which would have plainly told all who knew 
him that his Excellency’s patience was exhausted, — but 
he preserved his outward composure. 

“ Just stop and think, my child, what part you would 

have played at sixteen at the court at A ,” he coldly 

rejoined. “And, indeed, I must confess myself some- 
what astounded at your audacity in venturing to rank 
yourself with your grandmother, — the brilliant, admired 
Countess of Ybldern, and you, my daughter I” He raised 
his eyelids, and a pale glow flushed his cheeks as a very 
expressive although lowering glance fell upon the girlish 
face. “ There are besides obstacles to your presentation 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


229 


at court of which you do not dream he added, with 
great emphasis. “ They can and will be explained to 
you, but ’’ 

A servant entered, and announced that his Excel- 
lency’s presence was imperatively required in the apart 
ments that were fitting up. 

“Well, then, God bless you, dear child!” he turned 
hastily, but in an entirely altered and very fatherly tone 
“ Do not be bored to death at Greinsfeld.” 

He raised the brim of her hat, and was about to im- 
print a kiss upon her brow, — but she recoiled decidedly, 
and her eyes sparkled with irritation. 

“ Little goose 1” he said smilingly, and persisted in 
stroking her cheek caressingly with his forefinger, 
although his white teeth gleamed ferociously between 
his thin lips, and a lightning glance flashed from beneath 
his eyelids. 

He left the room, and Gisela went with Frau von 
Herbeck to take leave of her beautiful stepmother. 

The Baroness at present occupied the apartments that 
had been appropriated to the use of the young Countess 
when a child; they commanded the finest prospect of 
any in the castle. 

Her Excellency received her visitors in her dressing- 
room. They stood for one moment undecided upon the 
threshold, — it was indeed a puzzle as to how they should 
reach the lady. Mademoiselle Cecile, her French waiting- 
maid, had unpacked the trunks from Paris, — and heaps 
of gauze and glittering silk were issuing from them 
as endlessly as the woes from Pandora’s box. Even 
the floor was covered with boxes of flowers and with 
bundles, from which peeped out the little heels of coloured 
boots. 

The Baroness was standing before her mirror trying 
20 


230 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


on her dresses, — a most laborious proceeding, for the per- 
spiration was standing in drops upon the brow of the 
maid, who was arranging everything with a skilful hand. 
The Parisian dressmaker had apparently comprehended 
most intelligently the ideas of the Baroness, — her dress 
suggested the forest, the fresh green forest, in the little 
wreath of May-flowers, strawberry-blossoms, and tiny 
pine-cones, which encircled the lady’s brow, and in the 
rich silk covered with its pattern of acorns, that re- 
minded one in its rustling of the murmur of sacred oaks. 

Much less sacred, and most foreign to the chaste at- 
mosphere of the German forest, was the fashion of the 
dress, entirely without sleeves, and only held upon the 
shoulder by a narrow shoulder-strap. The exquisite 
form of the alabaster arms was indeed shown to great 
advantage ; the lady looked enchantingly beautiful, but 
it was well that she no longer bore a German name. 

The ladies as they entered could see the Baroness’s 
face in the mirror ; it beamed with triumph ; but she in- 
stantly contracted her brows complainingly, and upon 
the lovely mouth appeared a pout much like that of a 
spoiled wayward child. 

“ Dearest Gisela, be thankful to Heaven that you are 
not in my place I” she cried, turning round towards the 
young girl. “ Just see how I am bored, — Mademoiselle 
Cecile tortures me thus for hours, — wretched creature 
that I am 1 I can hardly stand upon my feet I” 

The little feet, however, were not as weary as their 
charming possessor asserted them to be, for, suddenly 
standing lightly and easily upon one of them, she lifted 
her skirts a little, and gracefully put out the other, upon 
which was a coquettish shoe. 

“Now say, Frau von Herbeck,” she asked smiling 
“ is not this dress exquisite ?” 


COUNTESS GISELA 


231 


The governess’s asceticism had nothing to do with her 
‘excellent taste,’ so with eloquent lips and eyes swii^* 
ming with rapture, she extolled this masterpiece of the 
Parisian dressmaker. 

Meantime the ladies had made their way through the 
labyrinth before them and were standing beside the beau- 
tiful woman. 

“ My dearest Gisela, what do you say to our rudeness 
in sending you away to Greinsfeld ?” she asked in a 
lively tone. 

Gisela made no reply. She was looking from one of the 
windows down into the garden, her cheek flushed with 
that tender glow that seems to lend an air of shame even 
to the white rose. She had never before seen one of those 
modern toilettes which have almost ceased to serve the 
purpose of clothing, and give the impression of an ele- 
gant frame around a charming but shameless picture. 

Her beautiful stepmother entirely misunderstood the 
young Countess’s silence and embarrassment. 

“ You are offended, dear heart,” she said, in a com- 
passionate tone, but with a certain admixture of vexa- 
tion, “and yet what else can we do? We should be 
packed like herrings in a barrel in this wretched old nest 
that looks so grand and extensive without and is so small 
and comfortless within.” 

By this time her dressing-maid had opened several 
caskets, and began literally to sprinkle the wreath and 
dress of her mistress with diamonds. 

What splendour was reflected from the blue velvet 
cushions of the open caskets 1 There was really an as- 
tonishing number ^f the rarest brilliants, which had been 
collected at a fabulous expense through several genera- 
tions. 

“Ah, grandmamma’s diamonds I” cried Gisela in sur- 


232 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


prise, but with composure, as she saw tue sparkliug 
stones. 

The Baroness instantly gave a half-suppressed shriek, 
and shrunk like the sensitive plant at a rude touch. She 
slightly stamped her foot. 

“ How often must I tell you, Cecile, not to touch my 
shoulders ; your fingers are like frogs ; I detest them I A 
perfect dressing-maid should be able to dress her mis- 
tress almost without her knowing it, — will you never 
understand that 

As if to come to the unfortunate maid’s assistance by 
distracting the angry lady’s attention, Gisela took up a 
bracelet and put it upon her wrist. Her aim was at- 
tained, for her stepmother, in spite of her angry outbreak, 
had not lost sight for one instant of her stepdaughter or 
the diamonds, and was following with an eager, almost 
savage glance, the young girl’s motions. 

“ My dear child, you make my heart beat,” she said, in 
a nervous trembling voice, extending her hand towards the 
bracelet. “ Whatever you may say, your hands are still 
weak and unsafe, — you might let the bracelet fall and 
ruin it.” 

Gisela riveted her quiet brown eyes in surprise upon 
her stepmother. 

“ Why, mamma,” she said smiling, still retaining the 
bracelet, “ if papa has let you have the diamonds to try 
on, I at least have a right to have them in my hands. 
Besides, I cannot understand what the jewels are doing 
here. How often have I entreated papa to let me have 
the locket that grandmamma used to wear upon a velvet 
ribbon, — it contained my dead mother’s likeness. He 
always refused my request peremptorily, because, by 
grandmamma’s will, all her jewels were to be kept under 
lock and key until I should be of age.” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


233 


“"Very true, my clear,” the lady replied slowly, and 
with scornful emphasis, while her flashing dark eyes 
gleamed with a malign expression; “that clause of the 
will holds good for you but not for me, and, therefore, 
child, you will be good enough to allow me to replace the 
bracelet in its case instantly, that Countess Yoldern’s last 
will may not be infringed.” 

Gisela, in amazement, quietly allowed the ornament to 
be taken from her arm, — she was very inexperienced, and 
the law of mine and thine, as far as it applied to herself, 
had hitherto possessed very little interest for her. Of 
course, therefore, she was entirely unable to criticise her 
stepmother’s proceedings ; her Excellency’s best advocate 
was to be found in the girl’s aversion to the heavy chill- 
ing stones ; she was glad when they were taken from her 
wrist. 

Meanwhile the carriage was announced. 

Frau von Herbeck, who had been an embarrassed but 
silent witness of the scene of the last few moments, 
breathed more freely as the young Countess with a for- 
mal courtesy took leave of her stepmother. She herself 
bade farewell to her Excellency with evident relief, while 
Gisela was leaving the room. 

“Apropos, one thing more, darling child,” cried the 
Baroness, before the door had closed upon her step- 
daughter. 

Gisela turned upon the threshold and stood still. She 
apparently had no desire whatever to thread her way 
again through the maze of dress upon the floor, over 
which she glanced disdainfully. The light from the 
window shone full upon her ; in her bearing there was 
all the simplicity of maidenhood, with a fixed resolve 
to avoid all association with her luxurious stepmother. 
But the Baroness was not to be deterred, she stood 
20 * 


234 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


upon the lofty pedestal of maternal tenderness and 
anxiety. 

“ Ever since I heard that you rode I have been exces- 
sively anxious,” she called out. “You will promise me, 
will you not, not to mount a horse while you are at 
Greinsfeld ?” 

“No, mamma, I can make you no such promise, for I 
could not keep it.” 

The Baroness bit her lips. “ Child, you are cruel I” she 
said, with a pout. “ Now, in addition to all that I must 
undergo, I shall be in daily terror lest you should break 
your neck in one of your wild rides over hill and dale.” 

“ I do not ride so furiously, mamma, and Sara is a very 
quiet animal.” 

“ I hope so, indeed; but that cannot entirely relieve my 
anxiety. When I think of the hilly country between 
Arnsberg and Greinsfeld, I really shudder. For my part 
I always refuse to accompany your father when he rides 
there.” 

An ugly ambiguous smile flitted across the governess’s 
fat face. 

“ Pray be under no alarm, your Excellency,” she said, 
with a meaning look. “ Our dear Countess will ride in 
another direction. I do not think she is particularly fond 
of the country between Greinsfeld and Arnsberg ; and in 
our drives we always avoid that part of the country un- 
less we are coming directly to Arnsberg ; it is, as your 
Excellency justly remarks, so very hilly.” 

The Baroness gave her a gracious and grateful nod. 

“ Well, that is one consolation,” she sighed. “Anxious 
as I still must be, at least I shall not see you on horse- 
back, you naughty, perverse little thing ! You will prom- 
ise me not to go anywhere in your morning rides where 
I can see you, will you not, dearest Gisela ?” 


COUNTESS QISELA. 


235 


The young girl yielded an impatient assent. This 
tenderness, which failed to awaken in her one spark of 
sympathy, oppressed her like a weight, which she longed 
to throw off. 

“Well, then. Heaven bless you, my child I” cried the 
beautiful stepmother, turning again to the mirror. 

Gisela vanished, and Frau von Herbeck followed her 
after a profound courtesy to her Excellency. 

As the door closed behind them the lady sank into an 
arm-chair as though wearied to death, and covered her 
eyes with her hand. She forgot that the little May- 
flowers and strawberry-blossoms upon her dress would 
lose all their freshness, if she paid so little heed to 
them, — a most strange forgetfulness I 

The dressing-maid clasped her hands silently, but could 
not conceal a malicious smile as she looked at her severe 
mistress. It was truly heart-breaking I How often she 
had arranged those wonderful jewels in the coal-black 
hair and upon the proud neck, which she was not allowed 
to touch, of the lovely lady I Two years before, the 
charming German Baroness had appeared at a Parisian 
ball literally covered with diamonds, and since then she 
has been called in the world of fashion, ‘ the diamond 
fairy.’ 

What conquests, how many heavenly delights, had re- 
sulted from the glittering jewels 1 They had adorned the 
triumph of beauty repeatedly. Their sparkle reminded 
her* of so many tears in the eyes of adorers who had 
been led by the seducing diamond siren through all the 
stages of passion, only to be disdainfully rejected in the 
end. 

And now she must resign the glittering armour of co- 
quetry, without which she did not care to live, — resign 
»t to another and younger possessor. 


236 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Let us draw the veil over the struggles of a woman 
who would barter the peace of her soul for glittering 
stones. 

Meanwhile the young Countess Sturm left the White 
Castle. She left behind her, without one regret, all the 
magnificent preparations for the brilliant festivities. Why 
should she care to see the Prince ? Of course she bad 
unbounded reverence for his lofty position, — that had 
been instilled into her from her earliest years, almost 
more persistently than reverence for God, — but she was 
very far from sharing in the childish faith of the mul- 
titude who see special marks of God’s grace upon the 
countenance of their ruler. 

Yes, she had a desire to be presented to the Prince, 
but only out of regard to the traditions of the ancient 
names of Sturm and Ydldern. Her ancestors had for 
centuries been present in princely ban que ting-halls. 
They had stood near the throne, distinguished by birth 
and by special signs of their sovereign’s favour ! And 
the last Sturm must maintain this splendour, vindicate 
these rights, to her latest breath, — it was a sacred 
duty. Was it really only a sense of this duty which 
had urged her to declare her wish to her stepfather a 
few hours before? She blushed, — she had a secret to 
conceal from herself, — and to the outer world she fled 
from the disclosures that her heart might make to her. 

She caught at some twigs of the oaks beneath which 
the carriage was slowly rolling, but as the tender, pointed 
leaves slipped through her fingers, she beheld there, in the 
quivering sunlight surrounded by the ancient oaks that 
whispered in accord with the sparkling fountain, the 
old gray vine-clad forest-house. And the noble figure of 
the Portuguese was just descending the steps. The old 
man was standing upon the threshold looking after him,— 


COUNTESS GISELA, 237 

and the ape upon the page’s shoulder and the parrot chat- 
tered. 

He was going to the White Castle, the Portuguese 
with that fair mysterious brow and those hot quivering 
lips. He would be presented to the Prince, and around 
the s grange foreigner would be gathered all the guests in- 
vited from the court at A , and among them her beau- 

tiful stepmother, in the green dress with the wreath of 
May-flowers and strawberry-blossoms above her beam- 
ing black eyes. 

The young Countess’s hands dropped upon her lap, — 
and some few torn oak-leaves fluttered down upon the 
ground of the forest. 


CHAPTER XYIII. 

The White Castle had sheltered its distinguished 
guest for three days. The luxurious splendour with which 
Prince Heinrich had once surrounded the idolized 
Countess Ydldern was all reproduced. The Prince was 
accompanied by several noblemen, and ladies were not 
wanting. All the beauty of the exclusive court at 

A had been invited, and the invalid Princess, who 

was unable to accompany her husband, had, as a special 
token of her gracious favour towards the master of the 
White Castle, sent thither, to add lustre to his entertain- 
ment, her loveliest and most amiable maid of honour, 
whose beauty was far-famed. 

Once more the old linden alleys of the castle garden 
saw rosy lips, lovely with the smiles that follow long 
draughts from Pleasure’s brimming beaker. In the mys 


238 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


terious green twilight fluttered gleaming youthful figures, 
hiding the treacherous sparkle of their eyes behind their 
fans, and the wild throbbing of their pulses beneath 
frivolous talk and fashionable gossip. 

And Prince Heinrich’s beloved orange and myrtle trees, 
that had once shaken down their chaste white blossoms 
upon the fair shoulders and gold-gleaming hair of the 
‘miserable woman,’ now stood in the enclosed space 
before the Thuringian castle, rearing their heads 
strangely in the breezy forest air. Silken robes rustled 
at their feet, and winged words, not indeed soft Italian 
sounds, but born of nothing, and yet sparkling and 
brilliant, flew hither and thither for the moment among 
their dark boughs, — royal aristocratic conversation varied 
by the gentle tones of the serenade. The lights of heaven 
were reflected in seductive eyes, in diamonds and fount- 
ains ; the Prince’s little fawn-coloured Irish greyhounds 
gambolled upon the greensward, and bright pennons 
were fluttering in the air from the roofs of the old 
towers. 

On the second day of his visit the Prince had visited 
the Neuenfeld foundry. The huge establishment, with 
its tall smoking chimneys, its new houses, and the 
crowds of labourers going to and fro, was so imposing, 
and had become so famous, that it excited immediate 
interest. 

On this occasion the new proprietor was presented to 
the Prince as Herr von Oliveira. He himself had con- 
ducted the distinguished guest through the building, and 
bis Serene Highness had been fairly charmed by the 
handsome man, ‘who with the gravity of his bearing 
so perfectly combined the elegant manners of a man of 
the world.’ Of course Herr von Oliveira must be pre- 
sented to his Highness at the White Castle, and the 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


239 


Prince appointed a certain hour of the following day for 
the interview. 

It was two o’clock in the afternoon. The sun hung 
glowing above the Neuenfeld valley ; but beneath the 
elms whose branches shrouded the grated gate at the 
entrance of the castle garden, it was cool and shady, — 
the long straight alleys were dark and cool, and the re- 
freshing plash of the fountain was heard in the distance. 
The air inside the gate was inviting enough, and yet 
the Portuguese stood without, and his hand shrunk 
from the iron latch as though it had absorbed all the 
fierce heat of the sun. 

The extreme pallor upon his brown, handsome face was 
still there, as the hinges of the closing gate creaked be- 
hind him, and he entered the avenue leading directly to 
the Castle. Were the restless departed souls of inhuman 
lords of the soil and fair guilty women flitting in full 
daylight in the paths among the shrubbery? The lonely 
foreigner glanced aside, as though something walked be- 
side him, — something tall and stately, — to which he 
turned with an upward look, and which oppressed his 
breath painfully, and made his pulses throb feverishly. 

Several footmen stood gossiping at the hall door. At 
sight of the Portuguese they were instantly silent, and 
bowed to the ground. The corners of the man’s mouth 
twitched with an indescribable mixture of sarcasm and 
contempt. One of the servants hastened to announce 
him. He was not conducted to the guest-chambers, — 
the company had just risen from breakfast, which had 
been served this morning in the apartments of the 
Baroness. 

The long suite of rooms that had once been occupied 
by the child Gisela were entered. In a large saloon 
servants were busy in clearing away the breakfast-table, 


240 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


sparkliug with glass and silver. The foot of the For- 
tuguese encountered several champagne corks on the 
ground, — he might rely upon a hospitable reception. 

Then he entered a room with the doors and windows 
hung with violet-coloured plush. Involuntarily his eyes 
sought the corner by the stove, — it was surely impossi- 
ble that this South American stranger should know that 
upon that spot, upon a silken cushion, the white Angora 
cat, the favourite of the little Countess Sturm, had once 
dreamed away its petted existence ! And certainly one 
of the window recesses was far more interesting than 
the empty corner by the stove, for sitting talking in the 
deep embrasure of the window, with another young girl, 
was the famous young court-beauty, the Princess’s fa- 
vourite. Both blushed deeply as the Portuguese passed 
them with a bow, — perhaps their lovely lips had just 
been speaking of the remarkable stranger, who had taken 
the usually well-guarded heart of his most Serene High- 
ness by storm. 

The lackey who had announced him, stood bowing pro- 
foundly, on one side of the door, to allow the Portuguese 
to enter ; but, strange to say, that lofty figure, with its 
proudly carried head, stood still for one moment, as if 
fastened to the threshold, and a dark red streak ap- 
peared upon his brow, which, combined with a certain 
nervous quivering of the lips, gave his classic profile for 
one moment an almost fiendish look. Within, the room 
was flooded with magical green light, and the exquisite 
mistress of the castle was leaning back in a lounge, 
dressed in a white morning-dress. Her hair, lightly 
caught back, fell across the green cushion, and her little 
childlike hands toyed mechanically with a gorgeous bou- 
quet of pomegranate-blossoms. 

“Very odd!” the maid of honour whispered to her 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


241 


companion, as the Portuguese at last by an evident effort 
entered the room, and the portiere screened him from 
view. “ The man actually shuddered at the sea-room 
‘ He could not cross the threshold,’ as the superstitious 
Thuringians say. I could perceive it distinctly.” 

“ I’m sure I can easily understand it,” the pale, deli- 
cate blonde rejoined. “ The green, ghostlike light in that 
room always makes me dizzy. I find the coquettish 
Countess Ybldern’s idea simply detestable I” 

The beautiful woman leaning back upon the lounge 
believed that she understood far better than the rest the 
cause of the delay upon the threshold. She smiled, laid 
her bouquet down upon the table in some confusion, and 
rose involuntarily. 

The entrance of the Portuguese interrupted a dis- 
cussion between the Prince, the Minister, and several 
gentlemen and ladies of the royal suite. His Highness 
was standing near one of the long sides of the room, 
speaking with vivacity. He greeted the new-comer with 
a brightening of his small gray eyes, and a gracious wave 
of his hand. 

“ My dear Herr von Oliveira,” he said, in the most 
gracious manner, “ it was not only due to the charming 
freedom of life in the country, but out of regard for you, 
that I determined to grant you your first audience in 
this room. But take heed to yourself I This room pos- 
sesses a dangerous magical influence, and — look here I” 
He paused and pointed with a significant smile to the 
group of ladies around him, which the Baroness had just 
joined. 

“I am aware, your Highness, that the Naiads doom 
their adorers to a watery grave, and I am forewarned,” 
rejoined Oliveira. 

This answer, given with a gravity that was almost 

Q 21 


242 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


stern, sounded strangely in contrast with the gay manner 
of the Prince, — it had the effect of a stab upon the Bar- 
oness; her beautiful countenance changed colour, she 
turned pale, and scanned the Portuguese with a lowering 
glance; but his eye never met hers, she could only 
see his profile, and that looked as if chiselled out of 
stone. 

“ That was so seriously said,’’ remarked an elderly lady 
whom the Portuguese had seen upon the previous day at 
the foundry, and whose name he knew to be Countess 
Schliersen, “ that I am almost tempted to throw down 
the gauntlet to you on the part of my little protegees 
there.” She smiled, and pointed her white slender finger 
towards the maid of honour and the ethereal, pale blonde, 
who were standing upon the threshold, attracted by the 
melodious sound of the stranger’s voice. The two 
graceful figures, in their light, airy morning-dresses, en- 
circled by the green light, had in them something super- 
natural. 

**You will admit, Herr von Oliveira,” the Countess 
continued, “ that the searroom gains in its unique char- 
acter by the addition of those two figures. But how 
can you discover any murderous intentions behind those 
two childlike brows ?” 

“No, no I” said the Prince gaily; “we must not dis- 
cuss that matter. Who knows what experiences Herr 
von Oliveira may have had with the malicious Naiads of 
the Lake of Patos or of the Mirim Lake I I cannot 
permit you to throw down the gauntlet, my dear Count- 
ess, but I shall be greatly obliged if you will present 
Herr von Oliveira to the ladies.” 

Then a list of high-sounding names greeted the ears 
of the Portuguese, and their charming owners, who 
fluttered, with apparent indifference, around the lights of 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


243 


society undazzled by their splendour, were almost embar- 
rassed in presence of the dark eyes which gravely and 
coolly, unmoved by any exterior decoration, scanned 
their countenances so calmly. How unprincely his High- 
ness looked, with his stiff, painfully preserved military 
bearing, and his narrow, retreating forehead, by the side 
of the majestic stranger, who almost looked as if he 
wished to hide a royal descent behind an easy, unembar- 
rassed demeanour 1 

The lips of the Baroness had regained their colour, 
and when her name was mentioned she alluded to the 
late encounter in the forest. Her flexible voice sounded 
almost melancholy as she spoke of the dog, her beauti- 
ful Excellency could put on a most compassionate ex- 
pression. Their dark eyes met. Instantly the red streak, 
almost like the scar from a burn, appeared upon the 
stranger’s brow, his eyes flashed, she cast down her own, 
confused by such an ‘ evident and overwhelming passion 
which was incapable of a single word.’ 

A refined and intellectual coquette conceals her satis- 
faction at the first indications of a fresh conquest, almost 
more carefully than the retiring young girl her first 
love, — ^thus her beautiful Excellency withdrew modestly 
behind the younger ladies, who, with all their youthful 
attractions, could not prove dangerous to her. 

“And now I will present you to a lady,” the Prince 
said to the Portuguese, after the introductions were over. 
He inclined his head towards a female portrait, the only 
one upon the wall. “ She must always be my protegee, 
although the earth has long covered that wondrous form, 
and my royal house has every reason to bear her a 
grudge. 

“Ah she was a divinely beautiful woman, that Count- 
ess Vdldern. Lorelei, enchanting Lorelei I” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


2U 

He breathed a kiss upon the forefinger and thumb of 
his right hand, and gracefully threw it towards the 
picture. 

The original of the portrait had indeed thoroughly 
comprehended the demonic power of her face and figure. 
The alluring magic of the watery flood, its mysterious 
charm, behind which lurks treachery, a charm that irre- 
sistibly attracts us, and yet creates a shudder of appre- 
hension, breathed from that dazzling form, — and the con- 
sciousness of this had suggested the sea-room and the 
portrait. Yes — there was the Lorelei I Upon the far 
horizon sea and sky mingled in a greenish mist, the bil- 
lows dashed up around the lonely figure, and the ends 
of the loosened waves of hair melted into their, depths,— 
it looked as though the spirit, the essence of the terribly 
beautiful element, the tossing, rolling water, was com- 
municated through those golden threads to concentrate 
itself in the exquisite female form that was reposing in 
the foreground upon the shell-strewn shore. 

“ I have just ventured to play the part of master in 
the White Castle, and had this picture conveyed hither,” 
said the Prince. “ My persistence met with the most 
energetic opposition from the ladies ; they think that 
there should be nc paintings on these draperied walls. 
They may be right, but I take the ground that the de- 
viser of this delightful room should be represented hero 
by her portrait, and, as it is now hung, it adds a quite 
original charm to the apartment.” 

He retreated a few steps and observed the arrangement 
of the picture with a critical eye. They had taken the 
painting out of the frame, folds of the sea-green drapery 
encircled the background of sea and sky. His High- 
ness was right, the effect of the figure of the reclining 
woman, as it stood out in the foreground, with the 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


245 


truly magnificent perspective behind her, was really 
magical. 

His Serene Highness turned with a smile to the Portu- 
guese, and again looked towards the picture. 

“ Can you not easily understand how a man, even in 
th( death agony, could forget his best intentions beneath 
the gaze of those bewitching eyes?’’ he asked, 

“I cannot imagine such a case, your Highness — for 
it is my custom to carry out my intentions,” answered 
Oliveira composedly. 

His Highness’s little gray eyes opened wide with aston- 
ishment ; this bold direct mode of address sounded rude to 
his spoiled ear, it actually seemed to rebuke the refined 
frivolity of what he had said. Still the man was an ec- 
centric foreigner, the possessor of millions, and of an estate 
in South America twice as extensive as his whole sover- 
eign principality, — much must be forgiven to such an 
original, who, notwithstanding the proud dignity of 
his bearing, still maintained a respectful demeanour to- 
wards the elderly Prince. The displeas ed surprise upon 
his Highness’s countenance therefore gave way to an arch 
smile. 

“ Listen to that, ladies I” and he turned to the fair 
group around him. “ Perhaps this sad experience is new 
to you. The power of a beautiful pair of eyes is not as 
omnipotent as you have hitherto supposed For my part 
I acknowledge that I do not own one of these unimpressi- 
ble hearts of iron and steel, I do not even understand 
them, but it would have been well for our royal house if 
my Uncle Heinrich had possessed the stern principles of 
our noble Portuguese, — what think you, Baron Fleury ?” 

The Minister, who until now had stood silently beside 
the Prince with folded arms, opened his pale lips. 

‘‘Your Highness, it is a well-known fact, requiring 
21 * 


246 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


no further proof, that the good intentions of Prince 
Heinrich in his last hours were confined to a reconciliation 
of hearts, and had nothing to do with the alteration of 
his previous testamentary dispositions,’’ he answered, — 
he could not quite suppress a shade of irritation in his 
tone. ^‘It is also well known that the Countess Voldern, 
impelled solely by an inexplicable presentiment, suddenly 
eft the masked ball that night to see her royal friend ex- 
pire in her arms an hour afterward. Who can deny the 
existence of that mysterious sympathetic attraction which 
just at the moment when the spirit is about to depart 
from the world commands the presence of a kindred soull 
And again, it is equally well known that the Prince 
was, to his latest moment, in full possession of all his 
mental faculties, — that the Countess, during the last half 
hour of his life, knelt at his bedside and promised to fulfil 
his desire that she should be reconciled to the Court at 

A . She was not alone with him a single second. 

Eschebach and Zweiflingen faithfully remained by his 
dying bed until the Prince breathed his last. He spoke 
with the Countess, expressed his grief at parting from 
her, but never alluded to the manner in which he had 
disposed of his estate. I indeed was in error when I 

rode to A , I believed ” 

“ That you could secure the inheritance to our royal 
house,” the Prince interrupted him, and completed this 
exhaustive explanation. “ Why take the matter so seri- 
ously, my good Fleury? Should I ever have allowed 
the Countess to appear at court again, had I not been 
convinced that the overthrow of our lawful claims was 
due solely to the charm of her seductive eyes, and not 
to any malicious entreaties upon her part ? But let us 
forget these wretched old stories I How? Herr von 
Oliveira, does the charm begin to work ? During the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


247 


whole of his Excellency’s admirable explanatory speech 
you have fairly devoured the siren there with glowing 
eyes 1” 

If his Serene Highness had exercised a little more 
power of observation he could not have failed to perceive 
how the bronzed countenance of the Portuguese had 
changed in hue. While the Minister was speaking every 
shade of colour, from ghostly pallor to the deepest crimson 
of indignation, had played over the man’s brown cheek. 

“ I do certainly succumb to a certain enchantment at 
this moment,” he replied, and his voice slightly trembled. 
“ Has your Highness never heard how birds are fasci- 
nated by a serpent? They are paralyzed by their mor- 
tal foe, who conceals the deepest treachery beneath her 
smooth shining coils.” 

“ Oh, mon Dieu, what a comparison!” cried Countess 
Schliersen. '‘Ah, sir, you are a lost man, — you disdain 
woman because you are her victim !” 

A sardonic expression played about the lips of the 
Portuguese, — he made no reply. 

“ Hm — the comparison is forcible and not without 
foundation,” smiled the Prince. “Herr von Oliveira does 
not like to acknowledge a defeat, — and is right to excuse 
his overthrow by attributing to woman the mysterious 
fascination of the serpent.” 

He approached the picture more closely. “ Is it not a 
positive grief that all the famous beauty of the V dlderns 
died out with this woman ? Eh, — what has become of 
the sallow little cripple, — the little Sturm ?” 

“ Gisela continues to reside at Greinsfeld ; her nervous- 
ness is worse than ever, and causes us the gravest appre- 
hension,” replied his Excellency. “ Anxiety upon that 
child’s account is the dark shadow that has fallen upon 
my life.’ 


248 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


“ Heavens I how long the wretched creature takes 
to die 1’^ cried the Countess Schliersen, “ That miserable 
little existence was always a problem to me I How could 
such gloriously beautiful parents produce such a ne plus 
ultra of ugliness I And yet,^’ she added, after a moment’s 
reflection, “ I always contended that I could trace in the 
plain little face the general character of that head.” She 
pointed to the portrait of the Countess Ybldern. 

“ What an idea I” cried the Prince, actually offended by 
the comparison. 

“I only say the general character, your Highness. Of 
course all the rest is wanting that once made the Voldern 
so enchanting. The child had only one attraction, — a 
pair of beautiful expressive hazel eyes ” 

“ Good Heavens, Countess I” interrupted the maid of 
honour, as though terrified, “those eyes were frightful I 
When I was seven years old I used to be continually 
with the little Countess Sturm, mamma was very desir- 
ous that I should be intimate with her.” She turned to 
the Minister with an arch smile : “ Indeed, your Excel- 
lency, I always mounted the stairs of the Minister’s 
hotel very unwillingly. I could not endure the little 
thing, who used to push me peevishly away when I went 
near her. She hated everything that I loved, splendour, 
children’s parties, and dolls’ weddings. Excuse me, your 
Excellency, but she certainly was the most malicious 
little creature I ever saw. I remember one day she hung 
a pair of exquisite little diamond ear-rings that you had 
just brought her from Paris around the ears of her 
cat ” 

“ That seems to me more original than malicious,” 
laughed Countess Schliersen. “ I suspect the little thing 
is not wanting in intelligence. Apropos, why should we 
not drive over to Greinsfeld for an hour and pay her a 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


249 


visit? Such courtesy to a Countess Sturm would not be 
amiss, and it would be a kindness to poor Herbeck to let 
her see something of the world once more.” 

Until now the Baroness Fleury had remained perfectly 
passive. When the Prince had asked about Gisela she 
had taken up her bouquet and buried her face among its 
scentless flowers, but now she suddenly arose. 

For Heaven’s sake, Leontine, do not think of such a 
thing I” she cried. “ Such a visit might produce conse- 
quences which we could never answer for to her physi- 
cian. He is in daily dread just now of a violent attack 
of her nervous malady, and does everything to keep his 
patient from the least excitement of mind. And then, 
too, you have just heard how self-willed Gisela was even 
as a child. Her temperament is most unhappy, and it is 
scarcely to be expected that she should grow gentler or 
more amiable in her enforced retirement ; poor Herbeck 
has much to endure from her self-will and the refine- 
ment of petty malice, in which such a thoroughly embit- 
tered disposition naturally delights I Far be it from me 
to disparage Gisela’s character ; on the contrary, if there 
is a human being desirous to excuse her it is I. She is 
too unfortunate ! But I cannot consent that my guests 
should encounter aught disagreeable at Greinsfeld ; and, 
besides, the child is much too dear to me to allow of my 
exposing her with her repulsive malady to, — excuse me, 
dearest Leontine, — inquisitive eyes.” 

The Countess Schliersen bit her lips. 

His Highness seemed to forebode some war of words 
after the sharp tone of her beautiful Excellency’s conclud* 
ing remark, and hastily approached Oliveira. At the mo- 
ment when mention was first made of the young Count- 
ess Sturm the Portuguese had drawn near one of the 
windows ] his glance roamed over the landscape j he 


250 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


never turned his head tovrards the interior of the apart- 
ment ; he was probably bored, and his Serene Highness 
might well feel that it was hardly courteous to converse 
in the presence of a stranger about subjects and events 
that could not possess the smallest interest for him. 

‘'You long for your cool green forest, do you not, my 
good Herr von Oliveira he asked kindly. “ I, too, 
think it is a little sultry here. Go, my dear Sontheim,’’ 
he said to the maid of honour, “ and get your pretty little 
hat, — we will walk to the lake.” 

The ladies hastily left the room, while the gentlemen 
went for their hats. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

“ Heavens, what a man 1” cried the maid of honour 
to her companion without in the corridor. “All the gen- 
tlemen here must hide their heads before him !” 

“ I am afraid of him,” said the delicate blonde, stand- 
ing still, with her little hands crossed upon her breast. 
“ The man cannot smile, — Clemence, you are all blind I 
H e does not belong to us ; he brings misfortune, — I feel 
it !” 

“ Most noble Cassandra, we poor blind mortals know 
that I” laughed the maid of honour, “Of course he 
brings misfortune ; he teaches the people far too much. 
But there’ll be an end to that I Let him only be intimate 
in our circle I It is true he cannot smile, and what he 
says sounds stern and inflexible as a stone compared 
with the elegant badinage of our Serene Highness. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


251 


Dearest Lucie, to bring smiles to that mouth, to bend 
tliat proud will, to overthrow all these boasted intentions 
by the power of love alone, — what a blissful task tJiat 
would be I” 

Try it and repent I” rejoined the blonde, and disap- 
peared behind the door of her apartment, while the maid 
of honour started with a blush — Baroness Fleury had 
approached unobserved, and now measured the young 
lady as she passed with a disdainful glance of compas- 
sion. 

Her beautiful Excellency was ready for her walk, and 
reached the vestibule simultaneously with the gentlemen. 
The doors of the music-saloon stood wide open, to allow 
the cool air from the hall to penetrate into the apart- 
ment. It looked sultry within there ; through the crimson 
curtains shone a uniform dark, almost blood-red light, 
only broken now and then by a sunny ray when the 
breeze outside stirred the leaves of the orange trees, 
and a way was opened for the sunlight. These streaks 
of light flickered eerily over the floor and the white 
walls with their gilded decorations, they seemed in- 
spired by a sort of life in their changing play, some- 
thing like a memory of musical ideas ; perhaps among 
them fluttered that Nocturne of Chopin’s which had once 
been the signal for such cruel treachery. 

The Baroness, with a frown of vexation upon her 
brow, hastily entered the room. She had been sud- 
denly called away from her morning practising, and had 
forgotten to close the piano. 

“No, no, my dear madame,” the Prince remonstrated, 
as she put her hand upon the lid, — “ this moment is too 
favourable to me, — the piano is open and the notes are 
upon the desk. Let me entreat for one piece, — you know 
my weakness for Liszt and Chopin I’^ 


252 


COUNTESS GISELA 


The Baroness smiled, drew off her gloves, thre'W her 
hat upon a chair, and seated herself at the instrument. 
She laid the notes aside and ran her fingers over the 
keys. The enchantingly beautiful woman was bathed 
in crimson light, and, as the strings vibrated in a storm 
of harmony beneath her white fingers, while she slowly 
lifted her long lashes, and her glowing eyes gazed 
through the room as though in intoxicated abandon ^ 
her head did not indeed bring to mind the chaste image 
of Saint Cecilia, but rather that Trojan Helen whose 
figure still glimmers in the dim past with every alluring 
charm, but is illuminated by the glare which fiends 
emit. 

The gentlemen noiselessly entered the saloon and 
waited near the door, but the Portuguese had left the 
castle,— he was standing without, beneath the orange 
trees, his lips compressed, and his chest heaving. Was 
there not an indelible line crossing this lawn, following 
the avenue and traversing the swampy meadow on the 
other side of the wall, — a line which, crimsoned with 
the blood from a noble heart, neither pouring rain nor 
dazzling sunlight could efface? He was once more the 
probable incendiary, and by his side stood the tall, silent 
form, with a mortal wound in his breast. 

Hark I through the sounding chords within did there 
not pierce the shrill tone of the bell with which the 
noble host once summoned a rabble of servants to hound 
them on the two brothers ? And in the distance the 
steep pile of rocks rose against the sky, — the golden sun- 
light flooded its peaks and jagged rifts, where, in the 
dust of the crumbling mass, the green forest-plants 
climbed lovingly. But though they should wind them- 
selves all over and around the rugged heights, they 
could not efface thp foptprintg pf hipi who once with 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


253 


/light gathering above his head and in his soul, had 
there fought his last terrible fight, while th^ foaming 
waters below were making ready for him a ool bed, 
where, in a moment, everything, his wild woe, despair, 
and the love that could not be conquered, would all sink 
silently to rest 

And the woman in the room with the crimson cur- 
tains was playing Chopin again! Her broken faith, 
the murder upon her soul, only made her piquant. The 
gentlemen who stood admiringly around her had all, be- 
fore they had married suitably, had their little liaisons ; 
who dreamed of any sin in the matter ? It would indeed 
have been an inexpiable crime to turn such a jest to serious 
earnest, and mingle a base element with aristocratic 
blood. The last Zweiflingen had, with rare tact, per- 
fectly comprehended the degradation of her entangle- 
ment, and had most justifiably rent asunder the chains 
that would have dragged her down from her true posi- 
tion. And of the man whose ruin she accomplished, 
they said, as of the moth who perishes wretchedly in the 
flame near which he has ventured, ‘Why was he so 
foolish Accursed be the whole caste that makes of 
none effect God’s commandments, that erects a throne 
for itself upon the shattered fragments of human rights, 
and thence flaunts its banner forth over the world, bear- 
ing the arrogant device — ‘With God and the Right!’ 

The Portuguese laughed low and hoarsely, — he invol- 
untarily clenched his hand, — and as he started from the 
spot the glittering stones in the pebbly gravel of the 
path rolled away from beneath his hurried tread. Had 
not the shining coins of the little Countess Sturm once 
rolled thus in this very place ? And had not a pitiless 
hand rudely thrust aside the frail childish figure which 
enshrined a compassionate little heart so cruelly misunder- 

22 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


2H 

stood ? From out the golden green twilight beneath 
the oaks, sprinkled by the sparkling spray of the fount- 
ain, gleamed a lovely head with waves of fair hair, and 
the innocent lips said smiling, ‘ That evil time lies be- 
hind me.’ 

The hand was unclenched, and with the other the 
Portuguese covered his eyes. He did not perceive that 
the music, which had been inspired as if by a spirit that 
flung abroad a sparkling fiery rain, had ceased, — he never 
heard the rustle of female garments as they brushed past 
him or the light tread of feet upon the gravel. A gentle 
hand was lightly laid i^on the shoulder of the ‘ dreamer.’ 

“Well, my dear Oliveira?’’ fexid the Minister. 

At the sound of that voice the Portuguese started 
and recoiled, as though the hand that had touched him 
had been red-hot steel. He stood suddenly at his full 
height before his Excellency, and measured with a proud 
glance the slender figure from head to foot. 

“ What do you wish, Fleury ?” he asked emphasizing 
the name without the addition of any title. 

His Excellency’s cheeks slightly flushed, and his eyes, 
for one moment unveiled, sparkled with anger, — while 
an evident expression of malicious delight flitted across 
the countenances of the gentlemen present. They were 
the Minister’s creatures. With all the proud antiquity 
of their aristocratic names, they suffered the omnipotent 
Baron, without a word, to ignore all titles in addressing 
them, whilst they adhered to the ‘ Excellency ’ when they 
spoke to him, as strictly as to the ‘ Highness ’ in inter- 
course with the Prince ; they chafed at the bit, and the 
smiles upon their lips were forced, — but still they smiled. 
Was not his Excellency specially good humoured and ac- 
cessible at such familiar moments ? But now he had 
found his master. They did not grudge him the lesson. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


255 


He did not gratify them, however, by any further sign 
of irritation. His Excellency never noticed an offence 
which it was not in his power to punish on the spot ; 
tie would not understand the answer, — and with admi- 
rable composure offered his arm to Countess Schliersen, 
who was greatly embarrassed. 

The Prince, who was escorting the Baroness Fleury, 
had noticed nothing of this little scene, and now beckoned 
Oliveira to his side. Whilst the party sauntered slowly 
through the shady avenues, the Portuguese, in answer to 
the Prince’s questions, told of his Brazilian home. All 
listened silently, — what he said w*s ‘ so interesting.’ 

The first impression produced by this remarkable 
stranger, that he was possessed of a spirit of antagonism, 
of rampant hostility to everybody, vanished entirely. 
The ladies were enchanted by the tones of his voice, and 
some of the gentlemen, who possessed nothing in the 
world beyond the salaries of the positions they held at 
court, grew fairly giddy at the account of the enormous 
iron mines, which, systematically worked as they were, 
must yield the Portuguese a colossal income. 

When the Prince asked why he had left Brazil, and 
selected Thuringia as a place of residence, Oliveira 
paused for a moment, and then said with strange emphasis 
in his low tone, that he would acquaint his Highness 
with the reasons for his change of abode in a special 
audience. 

The Minister looked up in surprise, and levelled a 
lowering suspicious glance for a moment at the face of 
the Portuguese, and although the Prince made gracious 
mention of this special audience, every one familiar with 
the Minister’s countenance might safely predict that the 
day for it would never arrive. 

Outside the wall of the castle garden, the Prince 


256 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


paused beneath the shady elms, and regarded with in 
terest the scaffolding of a spacious house that was nearly 
built. Although not far from Neuenfeld, it was situated 
in tolerable isolation upon the foremost spur of the op- 
posite mountain, and the roof had evidently just been 
completed, for a man was astride upon it adjusting the 
customary fir tree, from the topmost boughs of which gay 
ribbons were fluttering. 

“ It looks like a little castle,’’ observed his Highness. 

Is it the asylum for poor children ?” he asked the 
Portuguese over his shoulder. 

“ I am building it for that purpose, your Highness.” 

“ H’m I I am afraid the little things will never want to 
come out when they are once there, — and I cannot blame 
them,” remarked one of the gentlemen. Countess Schlier- 
sen raised a warning finger. 

“Only do not spoil them, Herr von Oliveira I” she 
said. “ I caution you in the interest of humanity. We 
only make those classes wretched when we educate them 
with aims that, in their rank of life from which they 
cannot rise, must be relinquished in after-years.” 

Oliveira’s dark eyes were directed with a sarcastic 
expression to the humane lady’s countenance. 

“And why should they not rise from their rank in 
life, which is only another name for misery and want, 
madame ?” he asked, “ Have they not brains as we all 
have ? And can they not learn to use the gift of Heaven, 
I say again, madame, as we all can, if they are properly 
educated? Only thus can they be protected from the 
evil which you designate as their rank in life. Besides, 
I go a little farther: Neuenfeld has bread and a com- 
fortable roof for all who do not prefer to seek the means 
of an honourable subsistence elsewhere.” 

No reply was made to this frank declaration. The 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


257 


Prince walked slowly onward, — but there was no trace 
upon his thin features of the dissatisfaction that the 
Countess Schliersen would perhaps fain have seen there. 
She was evidently one of those energetic women who 
are used to talk ex cathedra, and who cling to an opinion 
all the more obstinately for suffering a defeat. 

“ Doubtless you have taken for the model of this 
asylum our famous evangelical ‘ Homes’?” she said after 
a pause, standing still and turning to the Portuguese. 

“ Not quite,” he quietly replied. “I cannot agree with 
their fundamental principle. I never interfere wi+h the 
various religious beliefs. For example, I shall have some 
Jewish children there, orphans of most excellent work- 
men.” 

This answer had the effect of an electrical shock upon 
the group of ladies. 

“ What 1 you receive Jews I” sounded in chorus from 
lovely lips. 

For the first time signs of amusement appeared around 
the grave, stern mouth of the man who ‘could not smile.’ 

“ Do you imagine that Jews are so favoured by Heaven 
that they suffer less from hunger than Christians ?” he 
asked. 

The ladies, who met his penetrating glance, involun- 
tarily cast down their eyes. 

“ Those two Israelites died with the earnest entreaty 
upon their lips that their orphans might not be led to 
desert the faith of their fathers,” he added, most seri- 
ously. “ I honour their dying request, and shall not 
allow the children’s minds to be disturbed in their 
faith.” 

“ Oh Heavens I” cried the Countess Schliersen, as* 
tounded. ‘‘ is this toleration, which cannot be sufficiently 
reprobated, an effect of the air of the Neuenfeld valley ? 
R 22=“ 


258 


COUNTESS QISELA. 


The Protestant pastor there preaches ‘ Love one another,* 
and never thinks whether he is addressing Turks, Hea- 
thens, or Jews. And you, — ah, forgive me, — I forgot 
— as a Portuguese you are of course a Catholic 

Again a gleam of disdainful amusement sparkled in the 
man’s eyes. 

“ Do you wish for my confession of faith, madame 
he asked. “ Well, I firmly and truly believe in a God 
who is all Love, in the immortality of the soul, and in 
my duty as a human being, to make myself of as much 
use as is possible in the world. As for the Protestant 
pastor of whom you speak, I beg you to be a little 
more lenient in your judgment of him, — ^the man is a 
blameless Christian.” 

“ We have not found him so,” observed the Minister, 
in an indifferent and yet distinct tone ; his eyelids 
drooped low and imparted a look of exquisite contempt 
to his countenance. “ He gives great offence by his dis- 
courses to faithful souls who thirst for salvation. We 
have been obliged to dismiss him from the pulpit.” 

The heartless voice, the tone of which was designed to 
irritate, did not fail of its effect. The cheeks of the Por- 
tuguese reddened, and for one moment his quiet de- 
meanour threatened to fail him, but he controlled himself 

“ I know that,” he said, with apparent composure. 
“Your Excellency has probably intended to act for the 
best ; nevertheless I would appeal to his Highness the 
Prince’s clemency, and request that this case may be re- 
considered. Upon a close examination I think these 
same ‘faithful souls who thirst for salvation,’ will be 
found to consist of a domineering woman and a few la- 
bourers dismissed from the foundry for idleness and dis- 
honesty.” 

“Another time, another time, my dear Herr von OU- 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


259 


veira,” the Prince hastily interrupted him with a depreca- 
tory gesture ; his small, lustreless eyes scanned anxiously 
the Minister’s countenance, which betrayed irritation. “ I 
am here for relaxation, and must entreat you earnestly 
not to allude to matters of business, — tell us rather of 
your wonderful Brazil.” 

The Portuguese again stepped to the side of the 
Prince. 

“ Your dealing with these wretched pastors, sunk deep 
as they are in the slough of their false doctrines, is one 
of your most admirable state measures ; it will add lustre 
to the annals of our country, your Excellency,” said the 
Countess Schliersen to the Minister. 

This lady was determined to have the last word, 
which was intended chiefly for the ears of the Portuguese. 
He now stood in the midst of the wasps’ nest that he 
had disturbed, and the infuriated swarm buzzed and flew 
about his head ; but that head, with contempt in every 
feature, was carried more proudly than ever, as, with a 
scarcely suppressed sneer, he continued to discourse to 
the eager sovereign of the country concerning the beau- 
tiful butterflies and the rare woods of Brazil, and the 
topazes and amethysts, which had been found in great 
numbers upon his own estate, — thus leading the conver- 
sation back to most innocent topics, as was suitable and 
becoming upon such uncertain ground, where the herb 
•Touch-me-not’ grew so rankly. 


260 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


CHAPTER XX. 

The ladies had at first intended to sail upon the lake, 
but the Prince, lost in interest in Oliveira’s conversation, 
walked absently along the shore and entered the path 
leading to the forest-meadow, — the ladies followed as 
though magnetically attracted by the stranger’s voice. 
On entering the forest they had taken olf their hats, and 
were twining wreaths for themselves of bluebells, wild 
pinks, and wild hops with their half-opened bell-like 
flowers. How dovelike and innocent they looked in 
their spotless white garments, and their fresh young 
faces crowned with lovely wild flowers I And yet these 
apparently childlike, unconscious creatures were excel- 
lently well drilled according to the feudal code, and be- 
tween them and mankind outside of courtly precincts a 
great gulf was fixed, full of ice and freezing cold. 

Arrived at the forest-meadow, the pretty young wife 
of one of the gentlemen bound a little wreath around her 
husband’s hat ; the Prince noticed it, and smiling, handed 
his hat to her, — it was the signal for a universal corona- 
tion. The younger ladies fluttered hither and thither 
like butterflies, robbing the forest of its woodland treas- 
ures ; no village children playing in the woods could 
ramble about culling flowers more innocently and gaily 
than these aristocratic fair ones. 

The Portuguese stood, his back turned to the group, 
and his hands crossed behind him, before the bronze bust 
of Prince Heinrich, studying apparently with great in- 
terest the green-wreathed features. The young maid of 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


261 


honour undertook what no one else ventured to do. She 
approached Oliveira noiselessly, and with an arch, timid 
look of entreaty, held out to him her little white hand 
filled with flowers. Certainly that was a moment to 
conjure up a smile upon the grave, firmly-closed mouth, 
and cause a sparkle in the dark eyes, — but in vain. The 
dark countenance never altered, although he took off his 
hat, and, with a bow of knightly courtesy, handed it to 
the young girl. She hastened back to her companions, 
and the Portuguese followed her slowly. The whole 
group was assembled in the centre of the meadow. From 
this point the little opening looked like a star, of which 
the paths into the forest formed the rays ; upon every 
side one could gaze through them into the cool, green 
depths of the wood. 

Oliveira’s hat passed from hand to hand, each lady 
adding a flower to its wreath, until at last it reached the 
Baroness Fleury. With a smiling glance towards its 
owner, who stood near her, she placed in it a blue cam- 
panula, and was about to return him the hat when she 
suddenly paused and listened. Instantly the murmur 
of voices was hushed, the dull sound of a horse in full 
gallop was heard approaching. Was it some terrified 
animal that had broken loose and was careering through 
the forest ? There was scarcely time for this conjecture 
before the horse come rushing madly along the path 
leading from Greinsfeld. Upon his back fluttered a 
white skirt like an airy summer-cloud, and above the 
animal’s head floated a mass of fair loose hair. Golden 
light gleamed through the trees upon the steed and 
rider, and its rays glancing hither and thither made the 
whole swiftly rushing apparition almost supernaturally 
beautiful. 

The ladies screamed with terror. 


262 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


“My God I” gasped the Prince, actually staggering 
backwards ; but the Baroness Fleury stretched her arms 
out foroiddingly, almost like one bereft of reason. 

“ Turn back I Gisela, I conjure you I” she cried, beside 
herself. “ I cannot look at you. I shall die of fright 

But the horse, a fine Arabian, was already standing 
like a statue in the centre of the meadow, his bit flecked 
with foam and his nostrils distended, — one check from 
his mistress had rooted him to the spot. 

“ Greinsfeld is on fire I” she cried without heeding her 
stepmother’s half-frantic demeanour, — her beautiful face 
was deadly pale. 

“ The castle V' asked the Portuguese, who alone had 
pveserved his composure; all the rest stood stupefied 
whh amazement, as though the sudden apparition had 
been conjured up from the bowels of the earth. 

“No, several houses in the village are on fire I” 
answered the young girl in smothered accents, tossing 
back the abundant masses o| hair that had fallen across 
her bosom. 

“And did you undertake this rash ride only for that? 
What madness I” cried the Minister irritated beyond 
measure, whilst the Portuguese, with a few words and a 
low bow, took leave of the Prince, and immediately van- 
ished in the forest. 

It seemed as if the lovely rider had amongst the entire 
company noted this man alone. At his question a rosy 
light illumined her pale, terrified face, but as his tall 
form disappeared it faded again. 

The startled group now awoke to life once more. The 
gentlemen and Countess Schliersen flocked around horse 
and rider; and although the younger ladies, in conse- 
quence of the disagreeable shock, and of a reluctance 
quite explicable, held themselves aloof, their eyes were 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


263 


one and all turned with intense eagerness upon the 
countenance of the young recluse, whom a ‘malicious 
chance ’ had so suddenly and unexpectedly introduced 
into the midst of the court circle. What I was that 
creature, sitting her unsaddled horse with such airy 
grace, and yet controlling it with such a firm and power- 
ful hand, the crippled, sallow little being, who, accord- 
ing to the account of her step-parents, was dying a slow 
death in utter solitude ? Could the young maid of 
honour ever have feared the glance of those wondrous, 
gentle, yet proud brown eyes ? And could depths of 
malice be hidden behind that white brow, crowned with 
such wealth of fair hair? 

“Dearest Jutta, you have made charming April fools 
of us all I” said the Countess Schliersen, to her beautiful 
Excellency. “ For your satisfaction, I will confess to 
you that I was never so surprised in my life. Your 
anxious dread of my ‘ inquisitive eyes’ was really too 
well done I” 

The Baroness replied not a word to this malicious re- 
mark. She looked with her white lips and cheeks like 
a ghost, but she had entirely recovered her composure. 
Her eyes were fixed reproachfully upon her stepdaughter. 

“ God forgive you, my child, for what you have done !” 
she said gently. “ I shall never recover from this mo- 
ment. You know how I fear for your life I What did 
you promise me ?” 

Gisela had only glanced at the circle of strange faces 
around her, now her eyes flashed. 

I promised you not to appear in your sight, mamma I” 
she replied. “ But must I really justify myself for not 
keeping my promise ? I was compelled to seek aid for 
my poor village. Our people are all absent at the fair. 
Old Braun, who cannot ride, and Thieme, the lam« 


264 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


groom, are the onlv ones at home. There is not a single 
man in the village. They are almost all at work at Neu- 
enfeld. The women and children are running screaming 
about the burning houses, not knowing what to do.” 

She paused, — overcome again by the horror that had 
driven her on horseback over hill and vale ; although she 
had delayed here hardly a minute, that minute was a lost 
one. 

She must ride on. Not one of all those standing around 
her stirred hand or foot, — these elegant gentlemen seemed 
not to have heard, or already to have forgotten, that a fire 
was raging there behind the forest. The expression of 
disdain which had formerly characterized the beautiful 
face of the Countess Yoldern now played around the 
mouth of the granddaughter — the group saw that she 
was about to ride away without another word. 

If the eyes of all had not been steadily fixed upon her 
they might have observed a scene, perhaps even more in- 
teresting than the sudden apparition on horseback. The 
Minister, that model of diplomacy, his Excellency with the 
brow of brass, from which every assault glanced harm 
lessly, the man with the drooping eyelids, which were 
raised and lowered like the curtain before the stage to 
show only what he meant should be seen, — the mighty, 
dreaded Minister, was for the moment weaker than his 
ready wife, — he strove in vain for outward composure, — 
he could neither conceal his extreme pallor nor his 
evident anger. 

As the young girl moved he rudely seized the bridle 
‘)f her horse, and shot at her a fiendish glance of menace. 
She shuddered, — he had just stigmatized what she had 
done as madness, — he evidently thought his Countess 
stepdaughter compromised in the eyes of the court be- 
cause she had carelessly cast aside all sense of her posi 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


265 


tion and the strict laws of etiquette for the sake of a few 
wretched tumble-down thatched cottages, — he wished to 
prevent any further madness, — what did he care for the 
misery and despair in the village, whose weal and woe 
had hitherto been as indifferent to his obedient step- 
daughter as to himself I 

As these thoughts darted through her brain the young 
Countess’s eyes sparkled, — his Excellency had underrated 
the strength of those small white hands, — she drew her 
rein tightly, — ^the horse reared straight into the air, and 
the by-standers started aside in terror. 

“ Papa, you must allow me to ride to Neuenfeld,’^ she 
said firmly but calmly, raising her riding-whip to urge 
on the animal, — at this moment a shot echoed dully 
through the forest. 

Aha, the first alarm gun from Neuenfeld I” cried the 
Prince. “ Herr von Oliveira must have flown. Compose 
yourself, lovely Countess Yoldern !” he turned to Gisela. 
“ You need ride no further. Do you think I should have 
remained here so quietly had I not known that there — 
he pointed towards Neuenfeld — “ every preparation was 
making for speedy succour ?” 

Gisela now noticed for the first time the elderly man, 
the feeblest, least distinguished, of the group. He had 
addressed her by her grandmother’s name, — it sounded 
strange, she was not aware that in her he saw the form 
of his incomparable ‘ prot^gde’ returned to life ; still what 
he said sounded so kindly and the well-known face with 
the small gray eyes, — that head, which, worshipped by 
Frau von Herbeck, hung photographed, lithographed, 
and painted in oil in the governess’s apartments, — that 
face looked so friendly and amiable in contrast with her 
stepfather’s altered and lowering brow, that she suddenly 
felt the flood of bitterness within her heart subside 

23 


266 


COUNTESS 6ISELA. 


She bowed with an inimitable mixture of maidenly re- 
serve and gentle grace, and said with a childlike smile, 
** I am very grateful to your Highness for these reassur- 
ing words ” 

She was about to say something more but the Minister 
had seized her bridle again, this time with an iron grasp ; 
he had now thoroughly mastered his emotion, and had 
even summoned a significant and compassionate smile 
for the Prince, while he quickly turned the horse’s head 
towards Greinsfeld. 

He pointed imperiously to the path leading thither. 

“You will return to Greinsfeld without delay, my 
daughter,” he said in that cold sharp tone that made 
each word a command, — “I hope to have time and oppor- 
tunity to-day to receive your explanation of a step which 
can hardly be matched in the annals of the families of 
Sturm and Yoldern.” 

The proud blood of the Counts of Sturm and Voldern, 
to which he had just appealed, rushed to the cheeks of 
their young descendant; Gisela sat erect, but her lips 
were compressed, — she would not lose her self-command. 
She had no need to speak ; the easy expressive shrug of 
the shoulders with which she readjusted herself upon her 
horse was a far more confounding reply to his Excel- 
lency’s remark than any hasty irritated word. 

“ But, my good Fleury ” cried the Prince in a tone of 

deep sympathy. 

“ Your Highness,” the Minister interrupted in a gentle 
accent, while his eyelids drooped reverentially, but in a 
way which his Highness knew only too well betokened 
inflexibility, “ I am acting at present as the representa- 
tive of my mother-in-law — Countess Yoldern. She would 
never have pardoned this fantastic gypsy-like proceeding 
on the part of her grandchild. Unfortunately I am well 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


267 


acquainted with mj daughter’s taste for adventures, and 
if I cannot now prevent what has occurred, I can. at least 
guard against the prolongation of a scene which musr 
certainly give rise to disagreeable gossip.” 

Any other young girl would probably have dissolved 
in tears upon hearing these bitter words, but the eyes, 
that for a moment grew almost black, were not moist- 
ened. With that searching look which passionately seeks 
in the soul of another the true explanation of any act, 
she looked earnestly into the countenance of the man who, 
while she had been a miserable pining child, had treated 
ner with a species of idolatry and systematically spoiled 
her, but who now, within a few days, without any appa- 
rent cause, had suddenly evinced such an entire want 
of regard for her. 

She sat there, not like a criminal, rather like a judge, — 
the darts of her calumniator shivered harmlessly against 
the enforced silence of her slightly pale lips, around which 
appeared a disdainful smile. 

She tossed back her hair proudly, and then bowed a 
farewell to all, as she touched her horse gently with her 
whip. It flew like an arrow back through the forest- 
path, and in a few moments the green twilight had re- 
ceived and hidden the white fluttering figure and fair 
streaming hair of the rider. 

For one moment the group in the meadow looked after 
her in silence, and then the murmur of voices began 
again once more. 

The Prince immediately despatched a gentleman to the 
White Castle for several carriages ; he wished, accom- 
panied by the Minister and his suite, to visit the scene 
of the disaster in his own royal person, — the old man 
suddenly manifested great haste and vivacity 

‘‘ But, my dear Baron Fleury, were you not a little too 


268 


COUNTESS GISELA 


hard and cruel to your charming ward V he safd reproach- 
fully to the Minister as he prepared to leave the meadow 
for the road to Greinsfeld, where the carriages were to 
meet him. 

A cold smile flitted across his Excellency’s sallow face. 

“ In my public position, your Highness, I am obliged 
to wear a brazen suit of mail I should have been a 
corpse long ago if the arrows of abuse had not glanced 
aside from it,” he replied playfully; “but in private 
I am very differently constituted,” he added more se- 
riously. “ One reproach, and that from your Highness’s 
lips, does, I confess, pain me. I have just arrived at the 
humiliating conviction that, led astray by my affection, I 
have been a most negligent guardian.” 

“Do not accuse yourself alone, my friend,” his wife in- 
terrupted him in a sweet, soothing voice, “ I, too, have 
been greatly to blame. As long as we knew that Gisela 
and her extravagancies were <;onccaled within the walls 
of Greinsfeld and Arnsberg we were weak enough to 
practise unbounded indulgence. It has cost me many a 
dispute with Frau von Herbeck, who thought a stricter 
discipline advisable.” 

“ But, try as I may, I cannot perceive this excessive 
exaggeration,” said the Countess Schliersen composedly. 
“ Rather a bold ride, — nothingmiore. Besides, the charm- 
ing girl evidently had no suspicion that we were in the 
forest ” 

“ But let me tell you, dearest Leontine, that she is 
quite capable of appearing, as we have just seen her, in 

the public square at A before all the world I” her 

beautiful Excellency interposed with some irritation. 
“ She rushes from one extreme to the other, very often, I 
must admit, solely for the purpose of wreaking a petty 
spite upon Frau von Herbeck. To-day, for example, she 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


269 


wishes to go into society — which, good Heavens I would 
be utterly ridiculous with her malady, and an hour 
later ” 

“ She will very probably declare her unalterable resolve 
to retire to — a convent,” the Minister interrupted, and 
completed his wife’s sentence. It was meant to sound 
like a jest, but almost involuntarily he laid a peculiar em- 
phasis upon his words. 

The ladies all laughed ; the Countess Schliersen alone 
never altered a muscle of her countenance which ex- 
pressed that pertinacious spirit, the terror of supple cour- 
tiers ; it often foreboded the most painful annoyance for 
them. 

“ You allude again to your stepdaughter’s malady, 
Jufta,” she said, still adhering to the same subject of 
conversation. “Tell me frankly, do you really believe, 
simply upon the vague prediction of a physician, that 
that beautiful creature, with her healthy complexion and 
healthy active movements, can ever relapse into her pre- 
vious condition?” 

Her beautiful Excellency’s dark eyes were directed 
with actual hatred to the cold, smiling countenance of the 
inexorable interrogator. 

“Relapse into her previous condition I” she repeated. 
“Ah, my dear Leontine, if that were the question I 
should be quite content, but, unfortunately, Gisela has 
never recovered.” 

“ I could see that,” cried the maid of honour eagerly. 
” The Countess’s right arm twitched convulsively, — just 
as it used to do when I was so afraid of her.” 

“ That terrible twitching frightened me, too,” said the 
pale blonde, and every young lady present confirmed the 
sad observation. 

“ Ladies,” said Countess Schliersen, with a graceful, 
23 * 


210 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


but ironical inclination of her Lead towards, the youth- 
ful group, “ you may be right. You will certainly, how- 
ever, not deny that the young Countess sat her horse 
firmly and elegantly, whilst her poor little twitching hands 
managed the brute admirably ; the management of a ball- 
room fan would not require a tithe of that outlay of 
force. I am sure that the little feet that peeped from be- 
neath the white dress can dance gracefully. Do you not 
think this new-found beauty would be a great acquisition 
to our court balls 

She paused for an answer from the ladies, who all 
blushed like peonies beneath her satire, and then turned 
to the Prince, who was walking steadily on. 

“ Will not your Highness graciously accord some 
praise to my artistic eye she asked jestingly. '' I 
received a very ungracious glance scarcely an hour 
ago, because I ventured to find the general character 
of a celebrated beauty in the ugly childish face of the 
little Sturm. And was not the rider who has just 
plunged into the forest the proud Countess Ydldern in 
every feature, every gesture V' 

“ I acknowledge myself vanquished,” replied the 
Prince. “ The beautiful Amazon even throws my pro- 
tegee into the shade, — she possesses two attractions 
more, — youth and the charm of innocence.” 

A soft exclamation of dismay interrupted the conversa- 
tion. Her beautiful Excellency had imprudently caught 
hold of a branch of wild roses ; a sharp thorn had made 
a deep scratch in the soft, white hand, — the blood 
coloured her thin lace pocket-handkerchief. It was such 
a sad misfortune that all those gentle girlish souls won- 
dered how his Highness could find the fire on the other 
side of the forest a more important matter, and could 
leave them just at this juncture, accompanied by all the 
gentlemen. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


211 


CHAPTER XXL 

In the mean time the Arabian galloped on through 
the forest. It seemed as if the noble animal were aware 
that those it had left behind on the forest-meadow were 
hostile to its young mistress, and it could not too quickly 
increase the distance from them. The small hoofs 
scarcely touched the mossy soil, it flew noiselessly on- 
ward, the deep silence only disturbed when there was 
a flinty stone in the pathway or by the snorting of the 
steed. 

Gisela gave the horse the rein. She sat with the 
same proud bearing as before, — her face looking back as 
though to ward off her stepfather’s withering glances 
and vile accusations ; and the compressed lips, that had 
restrained every word of retort, were still closed, but 
around them the lines of contempt, so strongly marked, 
had deepened. Long after she was hidden from the 
eyes of those upon the forest-meadow by the darkness 
of the wood, she could distinguish the sunny opening 
through the vista of the path like a miniature picture 
upon a golden ground. A miniature picture ? Yes, in 
sooth! Graceful figures, full of elegance, but not one 
hero, not one with the look of a king and the indel- 
ible stamp of nobility upon his brow, which, from her 
earliest childhood until a few moments previously, she 
had fancied must distinguish those admitted to fellow 
ship with Princes. 

And that was the court circle, the quintessence of the 
nobly born of the land, — and in the midst of them stood 
the great man who should possess the soundest wisdom, 


212 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


the most entire self-control ; he was the chosen of the 
Lord, he ruled by the grace of God, — and from his de- 
cision upon the life and death of individuals and upon 
the weal or woe of the country, there was no appeal. 
Nature had not kept pace with his lofty position. She 
had enclosed the reigning power in an insignificant ex- 
terior. The pictures in Frau von Herbeck’s room lied, 
they transfigured the commonplace features with an air 
of majesty, whereas they expressed only amiability. 
And for a single gracious glance from those eyes Frau 
von Herbeck would have run a league ; every word 
that those lips had addressed to her during the ‘bliss- 
ful time when she frequented the court, ^ was treasured 
as a sacred relic in the inmost shrine of her heart. And 
Gisela’s own grandmamma’s forehead had been bruised 
by the weight of her heavy diamond coronet, that she 
might appear in that circle as befitted her rank. Why, 
she herself had fed her lonely imagination with pictures 
of the brilliant life at court ; she had grown up with the 
belief that she must one day claim a lofty position among 
the noble in ^he land. What a disenchantment ! That 
circle was exclusive only by the strictly-observed laws 
of etiquette, not by any natural stamp of distinction. 
That miniature picture on the forest-meadow differed in 
nothing from a picnic of ordinary mortals. 

One alone had seemed truly noble, — and yet he too 
had joined in the childish sport, — wild flowers were 
wreathed above his bronzed countenance, — wild flowers 
which she loved so dearly, and which now she almost 
hated because they robbed an image, which she uncon- 
sciously cherished, of the sanctity of a noble manliness. 
Just as she appeared among them his hat had been 
returned to him, — her beautiful stepmother’s hands had 
decorated it. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


273 


And near the Portuguese she had seen a lovely head, 
with brown curling hair, — she knew its owner, — that 
was the same childish head that she had formerly de- 
tested, because the brown curls were always confined by 
gaudy ribbons, and because the head could think of 
nothing but fine clothes, children’s balls, and dolls’ wed- 
dings. Besides, she used to pinch and pull puss with 
her little white fingers, — and dexterously appropriate 
cakes and fruit when Frau von Herbeck’s back was 
turned. Now she was maid of honour and the cleverest 
and most celebrated beauty at court, as her -governess 
had often said. How had the little chatterbox ever 
acquired that divine gift which Gisela called mind ? 
She had grown handsome, dazzlingly handsome, — she 
was the only one, except her charming grandmother, 
worthy to stand beside that tall majestic man. Was 
it chance that placed her there ? Or had the two found 
that they belonged to each other? 

The young girl ‘ who would not lose her self-command ’ 
suddenly drew the bridle so tightly that her horse reared. 

And onward they galloped. The sunny miniature pic- 
ture behind her faded, and even the burning village to 
which she was hastening, retreated with all its terrors 
before the two images which her young soul, filled with 
pain, conjured up. 

The sunlight, falling hot and glowing upon her bare 
head, aroused her from her brooding reverie. She had 
nearly reached the end of the wood. The boughs, which 
had arched impenetrably above her, grew scantier, 
and admitted glimpses of the blue sky among the leafy 
network, while on the borders of the forest low dry un- 
derwood fringed the open field. 

Gisela reined in her horse, and let it rest for one 
moment before she ventured out into the hot sunlight 
that glowed and quivered above the unprotected plain. 

S 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


2U 

Opposite lay the great quarry, which must be passed 
if she would avoid making a long detour to the carriage- 
road. A narrow pathway, rather dangerous for horse- 
men, led past the abyss, but the thought of danger never 
entered Gisela’s mind, she trusted to Sara’s wise head 
and sure feet. 

On the other side of the quarry the forest began again, 
— the dark line looked cool and refreshing, above it 
transparent clouds were curling, which dissolved in the 
upper air, — had the sunshine been less brilliant they would 
have looked dark gray, — they were clouds of smoke from 
the burning village. 

A light touch of the whip and Sara started to cross 
the plain, — but a second rider now appeared on the edge 
of the forest, — the man who, according to Frau von Her- 
beck, sat his horse ‘like a god.’ 

The Portuguese came from the forest- lodge, — and if his 
sudden appearance recalled the Prince’s jesting remark 
that Herr Oliveira could certainly fly, this wonderful speed 
was explained by a glance at the splendid fleet-footed 
horse upon whose back he sat, — the animal was an object 
of wonder and admiration to all the country round. 

Sara started at the sudden apparition that broke so 
unexpectedly from the thicket on the left, and her rider 
was overcome by the paralyzing dread that fills the 
heart when one is found out in some wrong-doing Her 
whole soul had just been filled with the man who came 
galloping forth so swiftly. At that very moment she 
had called up before her mind’s eye every gesture of his, 
every feature of his face, and then placed beside it that 
lovely head with brown curls, that she might judge of the 
relation of each to each. Her distaste for the young 
maid of honour grew to bitter dislike, while with him she 
found it impossible to be angry or to banish his image 


COUXTESS GISELA. 


2t5 


from her mind. Was not this all plainly written upon 
her forehead ? 

Shame overwhelmed her. The blood rushed treacher- 
ously to her cheeks. Before those penetrating eyes she 
was lost if she did not flee. 

Never had Sara felt so heavy a whip as at this moment. 
She reared, and then steed and rider flew madly across 
the plain. 

Oliveira had, it appeared, halted immovably upon the 
edge of the plain. Gisela heard nothing except the clatter- 
ing hoofs of her own horse, but that did not prevent her from 
urging her flight with the speed of the wind. Her giddy 
glance already fathomed the depths of the quarry whose 
ravines and abysses yawned close at hand, when there 
was heard the neighing and stamping of a horse behind 
her, — the horseman was following her. 

Sara’s small feet were no match for that courser, 
who traversed the ground with the speed of lightning, 
— one moment more and the Portuguese was by the 
young girl’s side, and had seized the bridle of her horse. 

“ Your terror makes you blind. Countess !” he cried. 

She could not utter a word. Her hands, from which 
the bridle had been taken, dropped slowly into her lap. 
In her white dress, with bloodless cheeks, she sat there like 
a dove, which, stupefied with fright, has lost the power 
to fly from the destroying hawk wheeling above her. 

Perhaps the same comparison struck the man who had 
by a single gesture gained control of the steed and rider, 
— a look of pain flitted across his face. 

“Was I too violent ?” he asked more gently, drawing 
the bridle close, so that the horses were abreast. Sara, 
restive beneath any stranger hand, acknowledged her 
lord and master, — she stood like a stone, and obediently 
inclined her head- 


276 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Gisela did not answer, — she never looked up, — Oli* 
veira’s swarthy face was so near her own that she fancied 
she felt his breath upon her brow. 

“ You have told me that you are afraid of me,’’ he be- 
gan again. “ I will not combat that sensation which 
instinctively warns you against me as your antagonist 
I cannot. Nay, whenever I look into your innocent face, 
I am prompted to say, ‘Fly, fly from me as far as you 
can. We are two of God’s creatures upon whose brows 
stands written from the beginning. Ye shall contend 
with each other with every weapon ’ ” 

He paused, — Gisela raised her brown eyes to him in 
terror. Besides the bitter irony in the lines around his 
mouth there was suppressed pain, and while his lips 
breathed eternal enmity his eyes glowed as they met 
her own. 

She could not bear that gaze. It dragged forth to the 
light of day all within her that she wished to subdue. 
It was certainly not written upon her brow that she 
was to contend with him. She loved him eternally. All 
the tender devotion, the pure affection garnered in her 
heart during her loveless lonely life she gave to him, and 
he thrust her away, — but this he should never know. 

In great distress she snatched the bridle from him, 
— almost convulsively she recoiled from him, and glanced 
at the abyss. 

At that gesture Oliveira turned pale. “ Countess, you 
misunderstand me,” he said in a tremulous voice, — then 
suddenly paused, and a fine sarcastic smile illumined 
his features. 

“Do I look like a highwayman?” he asked, “like 
one who could hurl a defenceless creature down those 
depths?” 

He pointed to the quarry. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Of that she had never dreamed. How was such a 
misunderstanding possible, and how should she attempt 
to explain her hasty recoil ? 

He allowed her no time. 

“We must go on,” he said, and his eye scanned the 
horizon ; the clouds of smoke were thickening every mo- 
ment, two dark pillars reached upward to the skies, — the 
fire was evidently spreading. 

Oliveira looked down at the young Countess again, 
with that air of grave decision that had such an effect 
upon her. 

“ I am cowardly by nature. Countess,” he said; “I can- 
not endure to see a horse pass the brink of an abyss upon 
a narrow pathway. We must go on, but I entreat you 
first to dismount.” 

“ Oh, Sara is sure-footed, she never stumbles I” Gisela 
assured him, with a slight return of her childlike smile. 
“ I passed by there only a short time ago, — it is not in 
the least dangerous.” 

“ I entreat you !” he repeated, instead of replying. 

Obedient as a child, she slipped down from Sara’s back, 
— and at the same time he dismounted, and whilst she, 
without looking round, walked towards the pathway, he 
secured the horses. 

Gisela started, he was by her side when she began to 
cross the narrow path. On her right was a steep wall 
of rock, and he walked on her left on the edge of the 
abyss. 

She glanced up at his powerful figure, — he was in 
reality close beside her, and separated from her forever 
by a mysterious gulf, of whose existence he alone was 
conscious. Her intellect, formerly so quick to see and to 
respect all the barriers imposed by the world’s opinion, 
and which had based all its judgments upon conventional 

24 


278 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


decorum, — where was it now, opposed to the mighty 
promptings of her heart? If the man beside her had held 
out his hand and said go with me, as you are going 
now,— leave all behind which they call yours and which 
you have never loved, — go with me to unknown lands and 
a dark future, — she would have gone, — she trusted blindly 
the arm which hM once carried the poor helpless woman 
in the forest. But that aristocrat on the forest-meadow, 
the diplomat with the icy expression and drooping eyelids, 
who called her his daughter, had forfeited every atom of 
her confidence. He, too, knew that she would have to pass 
the quarry, and had actually sent her hither. He was not 
cowardly by nature, — where life and death were concerned, 
nothing robbed him of his composure and self-control but 
an infringement of the laws of etiquette. 

Not a word was exchanged between the two. Oliveira^s 
face seemed as though cast in bronze, — he never looked at 
the girl, nor even raised his right hand, that, as it hung 
down, was brushed by her white dress, but he steadfastly 
walked beside her like a guard, and she saw how his 
cheek flushed when her foot slipped upon a stone. 

Thus they came to a place where the path was only 
two or three feet broad. Gisela felt her pulse stand still, 
— to avoid touching her, Oliveira kept directly on in a 
straight line. 

She saw the scanty nettles that grew on the brink of 
the abyss bend over it beneath his tread — she heard the 
stones and pieces of earth dislodged by his foot fall rat- 
tling down into the depths below ; the shy girl, who so 
studiously avoided all contact with others, suddenly 
clutched his arm with both hands. 

“ I 2sm afraid for you !” she stammered with an implor- 
ing look. Her lovely but cold innocent voice suddenly 
broke forth in tones of the deepest tenderness. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


279 


He stood for a moment motionless at the touch of 
those little white hands, at the sound of those tones. 
Perhaps those crimson lines that so mysteriously marKed 
his brow appeared again, as though the flowing stream 
of life left pulse and heart for one moment to concen- 
trate there. Gisela did not dare to raise her eyes so 
high, — tall as her graceful figure seemed, her fair head did 
not reach above the chest of the man beside her, — she 
could see that chest heave and struggle for breath. Of 
what nature the struggle was that so agitated it Gisela 
could not know, — she had no time to think of it. 

Oliveira gently unclasped her hands from his arm and 
dropped them slowly ; his strong hand trembled but 
gave no pressure. 

“Your fear is groundless, Countess Sturm,” he said in 
a firm but quiet voice. “ Let us go on — I must con- 
duct you so that you may never have cause to remember 
this path with terror.” 

But from that he could never protect her; as long as 
she lived she should remember this path with pain. She 
had betrayed herself to the one who, of all the world, 
ought least to read her heart. And although sorrow and 
resignation had echoed clearly in those accents, although 
he stood by her side as if his hand indeed was to guard 
her every footstep, — ^that could not reconcile her with 
herself. 

She walked on without delay ; her brow was clouded, 
and there was a dull sensation in her heart and brain as 
if everything good and noble within her had suddenly 
been destroyed, — love, enchanting hope, and her own 
self-respect. 

They soon issued from the dangerous pathway, and 
the Portuguese hastened back to bring the horses. 
Whilst he was unfastening them his hat fell off, — the blue 


280 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


campanula, with all its gay sisters, Oliveira tossed away 
with evident distaste, and they fell into the abyss. 

He threw himself upon his horse and led Sara, who 
followed him like a lamb, by the bridle. It was a break- 
neck ride. Gisela covered her eyes with her hands. She 
could easily understand why a man could not without 
anxiety see a woman, however indifferent he might be to 
her, pass along that edge. 

She breathed freely when in a few moments Sara stood 
beside her with a joyful neigh. She stepped upon a large 
stone and remounted, and away flew the two riders to- 
wards the forest. 

The rocky cliff, where a proud young soul had just been 
so deeply wounded, bathed its scarred breast as before in 
the hot rays of a July sun, — the nettles which had been 
trodden down beneath the man’s steps reared their heads 
again, and the birds which had been scared for a moment 
from their nests in the cliffs fluttered about them once 
more, — everywhere there was clear, sunny, joyful life. 
But below, upon the hot stones, the poor little campanula 
lay dying, a victim to the treacherous hand that played 
Chopin so wondrously, and had once removed a betrothal- 
ring with so much grace and determination. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


281 


CHAPTER XXII. 

The bridle-path, into which the riders now turned, was 
tolerably broad, the two horses could gallop abreast, and 
it soon opened upon the highroad leading from Neuen- 
feld to Greinsfeld. 

At this point the riders heard a distant clatter, Oliveira 
reined in the horses, and in a few moments two fire-engines 
dashed by, followed by a ladder-wagon, upon which were 
a large body of the Neuenfeld labourers*". 

How they tore their caps from their heads at sight of 
their master I How their rugged faces lighted up with 
pleased surprise I These were the men w*hose greetings 
Frau von Herbeck no longer acknowledged, because they 
were less respectful than formerly, because they did not 
stand in a reverential attitude until the little stout woman 
had passed out of sight. What had she ever done to call 
forth such a tribute of veneration ? Was hers a command- 
ing intellect contributing new ideas to the world ? Did 
she promote the happiness of mankind in anyway? Was 
she one of those divinely-gifted beings upon whom talent 
has been bestowed in over-abundant measure ? The con- 
trary to all this was the fact. She despised all novel 
ideas as revolutionary, and her own intellect was content 
to abide within the narrowest limits of conventional rules. 
She never stirred a finger to promote the happiness of 
mankind. She was satisfied that she had done her duty, 
when, in her bigoted prayers, she had invoked God’s 
blessing upon the lambs of the flock who shared her own 
narrow views and His curse upon the heads of the un- 
godly. She stigmatized the pursuit of art as not fitting 
24 * 


282 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


for Ligh-born people. She required from all whom she 
considered her inferiors the most slavish servility, simply 
because her parents had been entitled to put a ‘uon’ 
before their names. 

At such reflections as these Gisela coloured with vexa- 
tion. It was the first time that she had ever analyzed 
her governess’s modes of thought and action. With what 
rapidity was the judgment of this young mind, hitherto 
so neglected and oppressed, developed beneath the ani- 
mating influence of humanity 1 And what rare force it 
possessed to be able thus to abstract itself from the heart, 
at a moment when that heart was so wounded I 

A third wagon rattled past them ; the faces of the men 
crowded upon it were pale and distressed. 

These men belong to Greinsfeld,” said Oliveira. 

/‘They are not the sufferers,” rejoined Gisela in a low 
voice. “ The new houses which you, sir, have built for 
the people who work at Neuenfeld are upon the other 
side of the village. The houses of the day-labourers are 
on fire, — of those who are employed upon my estate.” 

“ And they are only thatched huts ■” 

“ With wretched crumbling clay walls and broken 

window-panes stuffed with paper ” 

Oliveira looked up in surprise, — the tone was strange 
from girlish lips. 

“And they who work for us live there. We show our 
gratitude for their exertions by neglecting them. We eat 
the bread that their labour gives us, and look on while 
they starve. We persuade ourselves that they are bo n 
for misery, that they are beings not to be compared with 
ourselves, creatures of no moral significance, and yet we 
‘require of them the same comprehension that we have of 
the Highest and of His commands, and when they die an 
all-loving God opens the same heaven to all. If their 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


283 


souls are equal with ours there, why not here upon earth 
also ? I know now what cruel egotists we are, but I have 
not known it long ” 

She broke oflf. She had been speaking in almost breath- 
less haste while Oliveira listened silently beside her. 
They had been walking their horses because Sara had 
started at the rattling wagons. And now the Portuguese 
extended his arm when Gisela would have urged on her 
horse. 

“Not yet,” he said. “We must not approach the 
noise again.” 

“ Then ride on before me, sir, your horse does not 
start.” 

“No, I cannot risk a life here to save a few miserable 
cottages there. You say your horse is safe, and yet she 
endangers your safety every moment, and besides, you 
ride rashly. Countess. I knew perfectly well, on the forest- 
meadow, th4 danger that threatened you at the quarry. 
If I were his Excellency the Minister, I should conBscate 
that horse immediately.” 

As he said this Oliveira drew his hat lower over his 
brow, so that Gisela, who had at first looked up timidly 
into his face, could not see the expression of his eyes. It 
was not chance then that had brought him to the quarry. 
Had he come simply and solely to protect her ? The 
young girl trembled at the thought. 

“ And, besides, there will really be nothing left there,” — 
he pointed in the direction whence they could hear the 
rattling of the engines, — “for you or me to save ; such 
crumbling old huts burn quickly, and the row of them 
which you spoke of stands apart. But other help must 
quickly be afforded, the homeless must be provided for, 
and, as you find thatched roofs and clay walls detest- 
able ” 


284 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


“ Oh, sir,” Gisela interrupted him, “ there shall never 
be any more such in Greinsfeld ! No one shall want 
there again, — everything shall be changed ! The stern 
old man at the forest-house was right, I have been as un- 
feeling as a stone. I have thought it a matter of course 
that the labouring class should look miserable and 
wretched. I have never uttered a word of contradiction 
when Frau von Herbeck and the Greinsfeld schoolmaster 
have agreed that these people should be kept ignorant. 
I have seen the village children running by my carriage, 
ragged and forlorn, without ever thinking of clothing 
and educating them. You have already judged me, — 
I know it, — and harsh as your judgment sounds, — I de- 
serve it I” 

Oliveira, his head bowed upon his breast, had listened 
silently. By no word did he interrupt the withering self- 
condemnation which the lovely young creature at his 
side pronounced in so grave and yet so childlike a voice. 

sat waiting like a physician who allows a wound to 
bleed beneficially, but he was no physician, coldly to 
watch the pain that the bleeding occasioned. He was 
a passionate man, struggling with himself to avoid the 
betrayal of his sympathy. 

“ You forget. Countess,” he said after a moment, during 
which Gisela had looked down with quivering lips, “that 
your earlier mode of thinking was influenced in two ways: 
by exclusive intercourse with your equals in rank, and by 
the system of your education.” 

“ They may have been partly to blame,” she said with 
emotion, “but that cannot excuse my thoughtlessness, 
my coldness of heart 1” 

She looked at him with a mournful smile. 

“ I must entreat you not to condemn the way in which 
I have been educated,” she said further. “ I am told 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


285 


daily that I have been brought up in accordauce with 
my grandmother’s desire.” 

Oliveira’s face grew dark. 

Have I offended you ?” he asked in a tone that had 
suddenly grown harsh. 

“ You have grieved me, sir. For the first time in my 
life I seem to hear my grandmother criticised. This 
never happened before. How was it possible ? She was 
the model of a high-born German woman.” 

An indescribable mixture of irony and contempt ap- 
peared upon the features of the Portuguese. 

“And of course you must detest any one who ventures 
to attaint the memory of that . . . noble lady.” His 
voice almost failed him, — he had asked no question, and 
yet he could not disguise in his tone and look his pas- 
sionate desire for an answer. 

“Most certainly,” she replied quickly and earnestly. 
“ I could almost as easily pardon one who trampled upon 
the Yirgin’s picture before my eyes.” 

“ Even although only a false sanctity were in ques- 
tion ” 

She dropped the bridle, and stretched out her hands 
imploringly towards him. 

“ I do not know what reason you have for expressing 
such a doubt I” she said in trembling accents. “ Perhaps 
the world has treated you hardly, and you can scarcely 
believe in the spotless sanctity of the departed. You are 
a stranger here, and can know nothing of my grand- 
mother, — but traverse the country, and you will find 
that all speak with reverence of the Countess Yoldern.” 

She pointed to heaven, while her inquiring gaze met 
his own. 

“Is there no one above there sacred to you?” she 
asked, gently shaking her head. “ Do you not know 


286 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


how strictly we should guard the names of the dead, 
since they cannot do it for themselves She looked 
down, and traces of pain appeared upon her smooth 
brow. “My grandmother’s memory is all that I can 
prize in the sphere in which I have been born. I must 
keep something that I can reverence, and he who robs 
me of that does me a great wrong, — he makes me poor.” 

She rode on. 

She never observed that the Portuguese lingered be- 
hind her as if his horse’s hoofs were chained to the 
earth, — she did not see him cover his eyes with his hands, 
and struggle in vain with the despair that quivered about 
his mouth. 

In a few moments he was again by her side. His 
cheeks were still pale, but the treacherous signs of men- 
tal struggle had disappeared. Who, on beholding the 
iron determination that characterized that proud head, 
and the whole bearing of the man, could dream that at 
moments he was upon the point of utterly giving way I 

No more was said. They rode on as upon the wings 
of the wind. A strong odour of smoke was wafted 
towards them, and the thin edges of the vapour from 
the flames could be seen through the boughs above their 
heads. 

Oliveira was right, the ruinous old huts had burned 
down with the greatest rapidity. As the riders issued 
from the forest three were already destroyed, — the flames 
were consuming another, and the gray thatch of the fifth 
and last of the row was beginning to crackle merrily. 

But one was almost temptecT to turn aside the huge jet 
of water that had just begun to play into the midst of 
the fire. The engines were doing their duty bravely, 
although their efforts seemed to throw scorn upon the 
human possessions which they endeavoured to save. 


COUNTESS GI^ELA. 


2S1 


Were those four wretched walls, their window-panes 
stuffed with paper, actually a human habitation ? And 
were these memorials of human injustice to be preserved 
that there might be a fitting abode for a class of men for- 
saken by God and man, suitable to ‘ their position in life’? 

The five huts scarcely occupied as much space as was 
required for the grand drawing-room in the magnificent 
Greinsfeld castle. Five families had been penned up 
within those crumbling walls, which every strong gust 
of wind threatened to blow down. Summer and winter, 
youth and age had inhaled the same close unwholesome 
atmosphere. But in the grand drawing-room of the cas- 
tle, which towered dimly now through the smoke-wreaths, 
the lifeless bronze statues stood upon their marble pedes- 
tals, and the crystal ornaments of the huge chandelier 
trembled in the air, which was carefully renewed although 
never breathed; and when tempests roared without, they 
never even stirred the damask curtains before the win- 
dows ; the lofty pile of granite and the massive window- 
frames shielded bronze figures, chandeliers, and damask 
curtains from their rude touch. 

There was a tremendous noise in the village, usually so 
quiet. The Portuguese, his right hand ever ready to 
seize Sara’s bridle if she gave the slightest sign of fright, 
accompanied Gisela to the gate of the castle garden, and 
then with a low bow silently took his leave. 

He galloped off to the fire. Gisela laid her hand upon 
her throbbing heart. How uncultivated those girlish 
affections had been I For the first time since her early 
childhood tears stood in her eyes. She should never 
speak to him again. She had not even found courage to 
thank him for his protection, she had been as if turned to 
marble at his courteous farewell, which would linger in 
her memory sadly and indelibly for her whole future life. 


288 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


How he must rejoice to be relieved of his duty as her pro 
tector! And when those smoke- wreaths had vanished he 
would return to the courtly circle. It was not the lovely 
maid of honour with the brown curls that had plucked 
the flowers that were now withering* in the qua,rry, — he 
would talk with her again to-day : they would walk to- 
gether by the lake where the thrush warbled and the 
breeze came wooingly from the forest, and he would per- 
haps tell her as they talked, how he had saved a few 
wretched possessions and a foolish girl from destruction. 


CHAPTER XXIIL 

Gisela rode into the castle garden, sprang from Sara’s 
back, and tied her to the nearest linden. Not one of the 

seryants had returned from the fair at A . Silence 

reigned everywhere in the spacious garden. But through 
the bushes in the distance near the castle there glimmered 
here and there a light fluttering dress and a gentleman’s 
straw hat, — it was probably Frau von Herbeck, accom- 
panied by the physician, walking to and fro there. 

Gisela went out by the gate again and walked down 
the upper village street, on both sides of which stood the 
new houses of the Neuenfeld operatives. 

The young Countess’s feet had never trod this street 
before ; the visitor to Pompeii can scarcely be more sur- 
prised by or unaccustomed to the sights around him than 
was the mistress of this village in the midst of these 
dwellings, and of the life that was here displayed. 

Everything had been brought hither that could be 
saved from the burning houses. What a sorrv sight 1 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


289 


and this miserable worm-eaten trash, that she would not 
have touched with her foot, was designated as prop- 
erty ! 

A group of wailing women stood near. They were 
wringing their hands and exhausting themselves in sur- 
mises as to what could have caused the fire. The children 
on the other hand were evidently delighted with the ac- 
ridcnt and its consequences. It was so charming to have 
the tables and benches out here in the open air, and the 
dirty bedding was not half so inviting in the dark room 
as here on the pavement, — their little faces looked out in 
beaming content from the ‘ houses ’ that they had imme- 
diately improvised for themselves. 

Gisela approached the women. They were instantly 
silent with awe, and moved respectfully aside. 

Had the moon descended from the skies and walked 
about the streets they could hardly have been so as- 
tounded as at seeing this white figure suddenly glide up to 
them, for the moon was their good old friend, into whose 
comfortable face they had fearlessly stared from child- 
hood, while they had only seen this girlish countenance 
covered with a veil flying past them at a distance on 
horseback or in a carriage. 

“ Has any one been hurt in the fire the young lady 
asked kindly. 

“ No, gracious Countess, not yet, — thank God, — no 
one I” they all replied. 

Only the weaver’s goat is burned to death,” cried an 
old woman. “ There the man stands down there, almost 
crying his eyes out.” 

“And we have no shelter for the night,” said another. 
“ Three families and no more can be accommodated in 
the new houses, — but we are left out, and I have a teething 
baby.” 

T 


25 


290 


COUNTESS G IS EL A. 


Then come with me/’ said Gisela, “ I can take care 
of you all.” 

The women stood transfixed, looking timidly at one 
another. She could not mean the castle ! They had 
never stepped a foot inside of it without almost dying 
of servile terror ! And to sleep there with a child cut- 
ting its teeth and screaming night and day I The grand 
halls, staircases, and saloons echoed loudly to the light- 
est tread, — why, even one’s own voice was enough to 
frighten one. But besides all that, there was ‘ the cruel, 
wicked Madame I’ Even the men in the village were 
afraid of her. 

Gisela left them no time for further consideration. 

“ Take your child, my good woman,” she said en- 
couragingly to the one who had spoken last, “and come 
with me. Who else needs shelter ?” 

“ I,” said a young girl timidly. “ Our house is not yet 
burned down, and they say it will be saved, — the Neuen- 
feld engines came just in time, but we cannot use it now, 
it is so drenched with water. But, gracious Countess, I 
am not alone, — there is my grandfather, and my father 
and mother, with my brothers and sisters, and our old 
blind aunt ” 

Gisela smiled. A ray of positive comfort beamed from 
her lovely young face. 

“Well, they shall not be left behind,’ she said. 
“Bring the whole family, — I will see that they are all 
housed.” 

The girl ran off, but the woman took her suffering child 
in her arms, while two others clung to her skirts. She 
asked a neighbour to tell her husband, who had not re- 
turned from A — where she was, and followed, though 
with an anxious heart, the young Countess into the castle 
garden 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


291 


Gisela untied her horse, and leading it by the bridle, 
walked along the principal avenue to the castle. 

The light dress came flying towards her on the wings 
of the wind. Gisela felt a sort of pity for the short stout 
lady whose face showed every sign of alarm. 

At first she came with arms outstretched, and her huge 
scarf puffed out like a sail ; then she clasped her hand.'* 
and dropped them before her. 

“No, no, my dear Countess, this is more than I can 
bear I” she cried in half-stifled accents. “ The village is 
on fire, — those God-forsaken servants have not come home 
yet, and you are absent for a whole hour. Often and 
severely as I suffer from your caprice, I say nothing, for 
love and devotion will endure a long while, but the trick 
you have played me to-day is too much. Forgive me, I 
must speak. I closed my eyes for a moment, and you 
availed yourself of this momentary weakness on my part 
to leave the castle — no, it is perfectly inexcusable I I was 
awakened by an alarm of fire, — my first thought was for 
you, — I searched the house and garden, — I even ran down 
to the burning village, — no one has had a glimpse of you. 
Ask the doctor what I have suffered 1” 

The gentleman in the straw hat, who had now over- 
taken her, confirmed her statement with a nod, as he 
bowed respectfully to the young Countess. 

“ The poor lady has suffered excessively, most exces- 
sively I” he croaked in a compassionate tone. 

“And now pray, dearest Countess, what put the idea 
into your head of riding out in the broiling mid-day sun ?” 
the irritated lady went on to inquire. “ Where is your 

hat? What I without gloves ” 

“ Do you imagine that T was riding for pleasure and 
could take time to think what coloured gloves would best 
suit my dress ?” the young girl interrupted her impa- 


292 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


tiently. “I went to procure help for the burning vil 
lage.” 

Frau von Herbeck started back and clasped her hands. 

“ And where did 'you go V she asked breathless and 
trembling. 

“ I wanted to go to Neuenfeld, but I met papa and 
mamma in the forest-meadow.” 

This reply was like a thunder-clap to the governess, 
but she retained sufficient presence of mind to stammer, 
“Were their Excellencies alone?” 

“ The whole court may have been standing upon the 
forest-meadow — how should I know I” replied Gisela, 
shrugging her shoulders. “ I recognized the Prince ” 

“ Good God, has the Prince seen her ?” shrieked the 
governess, entirely overcome. “ Doctor, that will be death 
to me I” 

In fact she grew deadly pale, and the physician also 
changed colour. 

“ Gracious Countess,” he stammered, “ what have you 
done? His Excellency, your papa, will be exceedingly 
grieved I” 

Gisela was silent, and looked down for one moment 
thoughtfully. 

“ Will you not tell me, Frau von Herbeck, why the 
Prince should not see me?” she suddenly asked, looking 
up hastily and keenly into the face of the fat little woman. 

This direct question restored the governess’s compo- 
sure. 

“ What! can you ask ?” she cried. “ Do you not know 
how you are dressed 1 I can imagine their Excellencies’ 
state of mind, they will be inconsolable I Your bizarre 
appearance will never be forgotten at court. Countess. 
There will be whispers and sneers whenever the name of 
Sturm is mentioned. Merciful Heavens, what will be- 
come of me I” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


293 


“ And I am greatly pained, gracious Countess, at this 
fresh proof that all my well-meant medical advice is 
thrown to the winds!” the doctor interposed. “How 
can I begin to make you understand that the sword of 
Damocles is suspended above your head ? How easily, 
how easily,” he raised his forefinger, “you might be 
overcome before all the court by one of your nervous at- 
tacks, and what a scandal that would make, gracious 
Countess I” 

The man could not conceal that he was actually trem- 
bling with rage, although his prominent little eyes sought 
the ground with a certain servile devotion. 

“ That you should have taken that ride without any 
injury to your nerves seems to me one of God’s miracles,” 
he began again. 

“ I too think it a miracle, for which I thank my God 
from the very bottom of my heart,” the young lady in- 
terrupted him ; she had hitherto listened to the reproaches 
levelled at herself with only a slight contraction of the 
brow, — “ but really it need not surprise you so greatly, 
since you have witnessed it daily now for six months.” 

A child’s voice was heard behind the speakers. The 
labourer’s wife had, at sight of the governess, withdrawn 
behind the nearest group of trees. She must have had 
great trouble in keeping her children quiet that the ‘cross 
lady’ might not observe them. But at length a little boy 
escaped from her. He stood just in the path, trying to 
frighten Sara with a loud ‘Woal’ 

What is that? How did you come here, boy ?” cried 
the governess. 

The mother stepped out from behind the trees. 

“This woman has been burned out I” Gisela ex- 
plained. 

“ Indeed, — that is hard for you, woman,” the governess 
35 * 


294 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


said rather more gently. “ I am sorry. The hand of the 
Lord is laid heavily upon you ; but, alas I but not as a 
chastening wholly undeserved. Remember how often 1 
have told you that His punishment would overtake you, 
— you spend your days godlessly, and have no time for 
prayer. Well, I will say no more, you are punished 
enough. Now go, — we will see what can be done.” 

“ Where can she go, Frau von Herbeck ?” Gisela asked 
very quietly, although her cheek began to flush, — “ you 
hear that her house is burned down, she has no roof to 
shelter her.” 

“ Good Heavens I how should I know where she is to 
go to ?” Frau von Herbeck asked in her turn impatiently, 
“ There are houses enough in the village ” 

“But not for five homeless families,” rejoined the 
young lady, — her tall figure suddenly assuming an air of 
commanding dignity towards the little fat governess. 
“ The woman with her husband and children must find a 
home here in the castle for the present,” she said reso- 
lutely ; “ and not only they, another family is coming also. 
Come here, my boy I” 

She took the child’s hand in her own and prepared to 
pursue her way. 

“ Just Heavens 1 what madness I I protest ! I protest I” 
screamed Frau von Herbeck, — stepping with extended 
arms directly before the young mistress of the castle. 

At this sudden movement upon the part of the gov- 
erness, Sara started back with a snort, reared, and then 
attempted to run aimlessly through the garden. While 
Frau von Herbeck, with a scream, vanished in the nearest 
alley, and the physician also made good his retreat, Gisela 
was pulled along a short distance by the bridle which 
she held, and which she continued to hold in a firm grasp, 
until by her presence of mind and the gentle tones of her 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


295 


soft voice she had succeeded in soothing the terrified 
animal. 

Old Braun, who had probably heard Frau von Her- 
beck’s screams, came running out of the castle. Gisela 
resigned the horse to him, begged him to send the house- 
keeper, and then returned with all possible speed to her 
poor protegees. 

She came in time to see Frau von Herbeck, who had 
immediately recovered from her fright, pointing scolding 
to the garden gate, while the doctor had seized the 
struggling boy angrily by the shoulder, and was turning 
the obstinate little face in the same direction. 

“ Stay where you are !” cried Gisela, seizing the arm 
of the woman, who was about to depart with her children. 
She was breathless not only in consequence of her late 
exertion but with anger. She had never before been con- 
scious of such intense indignation as now overpowered her. 

“ Frau von Herbeck, whose estate, whose soil, do we 
stand upon she asked, evidently struggling for outward 
composure. 

“Oh, my dear Countess, I will gladly tell you that! 
We are standing upon the estate, the soil of the old 
Counts Ydldern. Beneath that roof many a crowned 
head has reposed as a guest, but there has never been 
room there for people of obscure name. The Yolderns have 
never been guilty of contact with the common herd, they 
were always the terror of insolent upstarts. And shall 
this sacred soil be profaned ? — never I never I As long 
as my tongue can utter a sound I will protest against 
such profanation 1 Dearest Countess, I will remind you not 
only of the duty you owe to your distinguished ancestors, 
— think of your own interests, — who will respect you 

“ I do not wish for respect as you understand it. I 
want love.’^ 


296 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


The governess burst into a scornful laugh. 

“ Love, the love of such people I” she cried, her latgh 
subsiding into a contemptuous giggle as she pointed to 
the poor family. “A most exquisite ideal Your grand- 
mother should have heard it 

“ She has heard it,” said Gisela quietly. “ For as long 
as I can remember you have always assured me that my 
firrandmother’s spirit was near me, — that she could judge 
of my thoughts and actions, — now she will approve me.” 

“ Do you think so ? Let me explain your great mis- 
take then. That class of mankind had actually no exist- 
ence in the world for the lofty Countess Yoldern, and 
when they have importuned her, I have heard her threaten 
to have the dogs set upon the ‘ rabble.’ ” 

“ Yes, yes, the sainted Countess made short work of 
them,” added the doctor. “ Her aristocratic sentiments 
were extraordinarily strong I” 

Gisela grew pale as death. Those two people were 
ruthlessly destroying the halo that she had just sought 
to guard so zealously. Although she knew that her grand- 
mother had always stood aloof upon an isolated height 
that had chilled her childish heart longing for love, still 
there had never been any doubt in her mind that this 
repellant position had been due only to the strict de- 
corum and refinement of her lofty nature. And her idol 
had been inhuman I 

Frau von Herbeck was greatly in the wrong if she 
thought to regain the old influence by her revelations. 
She had imprudently destroyed the charm beneath which 
the young soul had so long lain subject in blind filial 
affection. 

The girl looked sadly but seriously into her governess’s 
face. 

“ Frau von Herbeck, a moment ago you called the fire 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


297 


in the village a punishment from God,” she said. “ But 
that house still stands,” she pointed to the castle, “ in 
which such cruel injustice has been done for so many 
centuries. A loving God has not meant to punish, as 
you say, but to bless, — those wretched houses were 
burned down that better ones might at last be erected for 
the oppressed.” 

Here the housekeeper came hastily from the castle. 

“ Open the rooms on the ground floor of the left wing 
immediately,” Gisela ordered. 

“Heavens I gracious Countess 1 will you persist in 
spite of all our representations ?” cried the doctor. The 
worthy mediator between life and death was trembling 
with rage, while Frau von Herbeck, speechless with anger, 
secretly twisted and tore at her pocket-handkerchief. 
“At least listen to reason 1” he urged. “ Do not admit 
these people to the castle itself, — it will never do. That 
pavilion will be a far better place, — it is spacious.” 

“ You forget,” Gisela interrupted him impatiently, “that 
you refused yesterday to enter that pavilion only for 
a few moments, because the dampness there was so bad for 
your rheumatism. You said the room was very unhealthy.” 

“ Yes, the moisture drips from the walls,” said the 
housekeeper, undeterred by a basilisk glance from the 
doctor. “The furniture is all covered with mould.” 

Without wasting another word, the young Countess 
turned away from the two people whose empty souls lay 
suddenly unveiled before her in all their worthlessness. 

“ Come, my good woman, you shall have a sunny 
room for your poor little child,” she said to the mother, 
who stood beside her trembling in every limb. She took 
the two elder children, who were clinging timidly to their 
mother’s skirts, by the hand, and went towards the castle. 

“ I advise you for your own sake, Frau Kuntz, to await 


298 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


his Excellency’s special orders,” the governess called after 
them in stifled accents ; but the good woman did not hesi- 
tate, — ‘ the cruel, wicked Madame’ had wielded the rod 
long enough ; it was high time that the lawful mistress 
of Greinsfeld took the reins. 

“ Good Heavens, what scenes I shall have to go 
through I” moaned the governess, putting both bands to 
her head. “ I suppose he will tell me again, ‘ You are 
grown old, Frau von Herbeck’ 1 When I think of that 
imperious tone of voice, I quiver in every nerve. I 
should like to creep into the ground. And you will not 
come off clear, rely upon it, doctor I” 

The doctor answered not a word. He put the richly- 
carved head of his cane up to his lips, and whistled softly, 
almost inaudibly, to himself, — 

‘ Full thirty years thy course has run,’ 

as was his custom when he was very angry. 

n- 


CHAPTER XXIY. 

“ Everything unchanged, my dear Baron Fleury 1” a 
voice suddenly declared behind a clump of shrubbery 
which grew near the principal entrance to the garden. 
The whistling instantly ceased, and the cane with the 
carved head fell to the ground. 

“ Everything unchanged,” the voice repeated, “ and if 
the young Countess Sturm should now appear on yonder 
balcony we could fancy the last fifteen years only a dream.” 

The doctor noiselessly picked up his cane, hastily 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


299 


brushed a few grains of dust from his coat collar, felt his 
forehead to be sure that the artistically parted remnant 
of fair hair there retained its prescribed arrangement, 
and then placed himself near Frau von Herbeck, who, 
breathless with surprise, stepped to one side of the path, — 
the Prince would pass directly by here. 

And in fact,Jn a few moments the slender form of 
his most Serene Highness actually presented itself to the 
gaze of the two figures, who bowed almost to the ground. 

“And see, — here is an old acquaintance,” his Highness 
said, very graciously extending the tips of his fingers to 
the flushed governess. “A most faithful recluse. What 
sacrifices you have made, poor lady I But that is all 
over now, we shall in future often see you at A 

At these last words from his Highness, Frau von Her- 
beck raised the eyelids which had been so modestly 
cast down, and there was a strange mixture , of joy and 
distress in her glance, her swimming eyes anxiously 
sought the countenance of the Minister, — those features 
had stiffened to icy coldness! Again the stout little 
woman longed to creep into the ground. 

“ You have had a serious alarm,” the Prince said fur- 
ther ; “ the fire in the village might have produced grave 
results, but you have nothing to fear, I have just come 
from the scene of the conflagration.” 

“Ah, your Highness, that I could have borne 1 It is 
much more difficult to recover from my alarm at the rash 
ride of my little Countess. Indeed, your Excellency, I 
am not to blame,” she said imploringly to the Minister. 

“ We will not allude to that now I” he said with an im- 
patient wave of his hand. “ Where is the Countess?” 

“ Here, papa.” 

The young girl issued from the by-path. 

Had she grown still taller during the fe^ days of her 


300 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


exile ? What must her soul have undergone to deprive 
her presence of all traces of childlike submission ! All 
the graceful dignity with which formerly Countess Yol- 
dern had enacted the hostess encircled that youthful 
form, — the bewitching smile alone was wanting, a pro- 
found gravity characterized her bearing. 

The Minister offered to take her hand, that he might 
present her to his most Serene Highness in due form. 
She did not appear to understand his intention, so his 
Excellency introduced her simply by a graceful wave 
of his hand, and his ‘ my daughter ’ sounded as tenderly 
affectionate from his lips, as though the tie between him- 
self and the orphaned Countess had never been stronger 
than at present. 

Gisela courtesied with easy grace, Frau von Herbeck’s 
gaze followed this obeisance with the greatest anxiety, — - 
it was ‘not half low enough.’ But it made no change 
in the expression of cordial good-will and pleasure that 
animated the features of the Prince. 

“ My dear Countess, you cannot tell what delightful 
memories the sight of you awakens within me I” he said, 
almost with emotion. “Your grandmother. Countess 
Vdldern, whom you resemble exactly, was formerly, al- 
though only for a few years, the life of my court. We 
can none of us ever forget the new existence that her 
brilliant spirit initiated amongst us, — we forgot the dark 
side of the world, — Countess Vdldern was our beneficent 
fairy !” 

“Who had her needy suppliants set upon by dogs,” 
thought Gisela, whose heart writhed at the thought that 
she could not away with. One quarter of an hour before, 
the Prince’s emphatic eulogium would have made her 
proud and happy, now it sounded to her like cutting s-v- 
casn;. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


301 


She had no words in which to reply to this flattering 
address. His Highness regarded her silence as the 
charming timidity of the lonely child. He immediately 
helped her out of her embarrassment by taking her hand 
and leading her beneath the magnificent linden, which, 
standing near the grated gate of the garden, extended its 
ancient leafy shade above a set of garden-furniture ii. 
wrought iron. 

“ I will not enter the castle this time,” he said sitting 
down. “ It is almost time for dinner, and we must not 
keep the ladies at Arnsberg waiting. But we must rest for 
one moment beneath this linden. Do you remember, my 
dear Fleury, — we used to sit here upon those ‘ Italian 
nights’ at which the Countess knew so well how to pre- 
side ? There lay the castle illuminated as if by enchant- 
ment, — the garden, all alive with youth and beauty, swam 
in a sea of brilliancy, — what an intoxicating time it was I 
Pastl past!” 

From this place one could overlook the grand old 
castle and a large portion of the garden, which was finely 
laid out. But on one side, through the grating of the gate, 
could be seen a part of the valley, — above the sunny strip 
the clouds of smoke still hung black as ever, almost entirely 
obscuring the forest upon the opposite mountain. 

And even if all danger were over for the unfortunate 
village, Gisela could not understand how, in face of such 
realities, the old man sitting beside her could lose himself 
in such melancholy contemplation of a dead past. 

The gentlemen of his suite now arrived from the vil- 
lage. Frau von Herbeck hastened to the castle to order 
L'efreshments, — but as soon as she was concealed behind 
the shrubbery she wrung her hands in positive anguish 
of soul ; the Minister’s countenance had changed terribly 
as soon as he thought himself unobserved, — she had never 

26 


302 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


seen suppressed rage so undeniably stamped upon hia 
diplomatic features. 

His Excellency had just risen to present the gentlemen 
to his stepdaughter when there was a dull crash heard 
from the village, followed by wild shrieks from a multi- 
tude of voices. 

The Prince sprang up, — they hastened to the gate. 

“ The last burning house has fallen, your Highness, it 
could cause no disaster,” one of the gentlemen said reas- 
suringly. 

“ Go instantly and see what has happened I” the Prince 
commanded. 

Several gentlemen hurried away as though blown off 
by a hurricane. 

Almost at the same instant a man came running round 
the corner of the upper village street. It was the Greins- 
feld schoolmaster going to his dwelling in the neighbour- 
hood of the castle. 

“ What ha^ just happened over there, Herr Wdllner 
asked Frau von Herbeck, stepping outside of the gate. 

“ Madame, Nickel’s house has fallen in and buried an 
antichrist in its ruins,” the man answered almost solemnly 
and with a kind of savage fanaticism. “As far as I 
*'know, the American from the forest-house lies beneath 
them. The Lord has arisen in His just wrath I All 
those whose houses are burned have saved their goats 
except the weaver ; his is burned to death, and he was 
one of the signers of the petition to retain the Neuecfeld 
pastor in his office.” 

“ Silly babbler !” sneered the Minister. He and tho 
physician were the only ones who had awaited the end 
of the schoolmaster’s communication. 

The Prince, with a pale face, went towards the village 
street, but Gisela was there before him. A cry of despair 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


303 


rose from her heart, but her lips were mute, — her throat 
seemed to contract as by a spasm. Her feet still bore 
her onward. 

What did she long to do ? Tear away the ruins that 
were heaped above his face, — smother with her own body 
the flames that would devour him. Should such manly 
beauty, such force of will and strength of action, — a life 
so tenderly loved, that she would have cherished it with 
eyes and hands, with all the might of her soul — die, die, 
perish miserably beneath that horrible mass of ruins and 
glowing ashes ! 

A pillar of black smoke was ascending straight to the 
skies from the scene of the disaster. At sight of it Gisela 
felt her feet give way beneath her, — a mist swam before 
her eyes, she tottered, and mechanically threw her arm 
around the nearest tree. 

“ Poor child I” cried the Prince, springing to her side. 
“ Why did you come too ? This is no place for you I I 
entreat you, turn back with me I” 

She shook her head and struggled for composure. 

His Highness gazed helplessly around. The gentle- 
men who had been standing with him at the gate had 
vanished down the village street. But at this moment 
their familiar voices again fell upon his ears, — cheerful 
exclamations followed by lively conversation. And now 
they appeared from between the houses ; as they came in 
sight of the Prince they pointed behind them down the 
street, where the tall form of the Portuguese, accom- 
panied by the rest of the gentlemen, was just turning the 
corner. 

“ Good Heavens 1 here you are I’’ the Prince cried out 
to him in joyful surprise. “What a fright you have given 
us I” 

With a few steps Oliveira stood beside the Prince and 


304 


COVNTESS GISELA. 


also before the young girl, who, unable to stand upright, 
was leaning her head against the trunk of the tree. The 
man was not a stone, he had in his breast a passionate 
heart that clamoured at this moment for its right. He 
knew only too well what had extinguished the light in 
those brown eyes, — he could read all the anguish of the 
last few moments in the heart-breaking smile that hovered 
upon the pallid childlike lips. The past, the future, plans, 
resolutions, life, and the world suddenly lost all power 
over the man, — he saw only that pale face. 

He loosened her hands from the tree, and passed his 
arm sustainingly around her slight figure, drawing it 
firmly and tenderly towards him as if for ever and ever. 
He said not one word while the Prince and his suite 
exhausted themselves in phrases of sympathy. No one 
noticed the strange position in which those two mortals 
were placed. The Portuguese, with his herculean propor- 
tions, seemed more fitted than any other present for a 
support to weakness, — he possibly might be obliged to 
carry the half-fainting girl back to the castle in his arms. 
Were not these two young people utter strangers to 
each other? They had not even been introduced, as was 
well known. ‘ Honi soit qui mal y pense I’ 

Meanwhile the Minister, Frau von Herbeck, and the 
physician had approached, and were standing speechless 
before the group. 

“ One whom we thought killed is, thank God, restored 
to life,” said the Prince. “ But our fright has had evil 
consequences. The poor Countess is not well.” 

The doctor instantly felt the young girl’s pulse. 

“ Relieve me of my anxiety, I pray you, doctor,” said 
his Highness. “ It is only the consequence of violent 
alarm, and must soon pass away ?” 

The doctor bent double like the closing blade of a 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


S05 


pocket-knife. It was the first time his Highness had 
deigned to address him. 

“ I hope so, your Highness, although considering the 
peculiar malady from which the Countess suffers we can 
never predict with any certainty the result of an attack 
of this kind I must confess that it pains me excessively 
to see my noble patient’s possible recovery again re- 
tarded by this unfortunate accident.” 

At these words, the blood not only returned to the 
Countess’s lips and cheeks, it flushed her neck and brow. 
She was irritated at the ambiguous remark of the physician 
who connected her sudden faintness with her former 
sufferings. Why must that detestable malady be perpet- 
ually and pitilessly attributed to her, and in the presence 
of all these men who were gazing inquisitively at her? 

“ I thank you,” she said in a low earnest voice to the 
Portuguese. “ I will try to walk alone.” 

He instantly stepped aside, and she tottered for the 
first few steps. Frau von Herbeck would have lent her 
some assistance, but she rejected it. Pride, indignation, 
and, above all, the blissful consciousness that he was at 
her side unharmed, soon helped her to overcome the mo- 
mentary weakness. 

The Prince glanced triumphantly at the doctor, as 
her movements grew firmer and more elastic at every 
step ; and when they had regained the linden in the garden 
he took his former place with a sigh of relief, and drew 
the young lady down beside him. 

“How you see the result of the attack, Herr Doctor,’^ 
he said in an apparently gay frame of mind. “ Our 
Countess’s brown eyes have regained all their lustre, 
and to-morrow I shall rout all your precautions. But 
now tell me, for Heaven’s sake, my dear Herr von Oli- 
26* 


U 


306 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


veira, how did it happen that such a groundless report 
concerning you arose 

The Portuguese was the only one who was not seated, — 
he was leaning against a tree near by. Would this won- 
drous stranger always seem to protest against any 
community with these people ? 

“ Probably your informant thought that finale of the 
drama very piquant,’^ he replied with a slight trace of 
amusement, which, although not a smile, yet illuminated 
his grave face. “ He did not wait until the curtain of 
smoke and dust was raised, and so I became the dying 
hero of the piece.” 

They laughed. 

“ I was told,” one of the gentlemen explained, as the 
Portuguese showed no inclination to relate the circum- 
stance, “ that the owner of the last burning house re- 
turned from A just as it was about to fall. He 

rushed, like one deprived of reason, towards the door, to 
rescue some part of his property. Herr von Oliveira 
undertook to detain him ; and as in the struggle the 
man manifested the strength of a bear, both were dragged 
near the burning house. It fell, — and for a few moments 
all believed that both the owner and his saviour were 
buried beneath the ruins. The man, your Highness, 
wished to save all his available property ; it was hidden 
in some corner of the hut — nine dollars in cash !” 

Again they all laughed, and began to converse gaily 
Old Braun approached with ices. 

In the mean time the Portuguese left the tree and 
walked to the gate ; he declined the refreshments offered 
him by the servant. 

Was he so lost in contemplation of the fleeting clouds 
overhead that he was startled, as a gentle vcice of entreaty 
reached his ear ? 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


30Y 


Gisela stood beside him. She had taken a little waite’* 
from old Braun and now offered it to the Portuguese again. 

“ Sir,” she said timidly, “will you not return with me 
to the linden ?” 

“ Look at me and see if I can venture near that ele- 
gan’: group I” he replied, pointing to his coat, which 
was covered with dust and ashes. “ I ought, on the 
contrary, to make use of this moment, when I am unob- 
served, to withdraw.” 

She raised her brown eyes to him imploringly. 

“ Well, then, do not at least refuse some slight refresh- 
ment, — I am so proud to be able to offer you anything 
here upon my own domain !” 

How submissive and humble the words sounded, from 
lips that could so easily express the haughtiness that 
had marked the countenance of the imperious Countess 
Yoldern 1 

The cheek of the Portuguese slightly paled, but he 
smiled. 

“ Have you forgotten that I stand opposed to you, armed 
to the teeth ? I relinquish my right of hostility the 
instant that I accept your hospitality.” 

He said it jestingly, but there was painful embarrass- 
ment in his look and tone. 

“ Herr von Oliveira is quite right not to take any ice,” 
said the Minister advancing towards them ; “ he came back 
from the fire very much heated. And you should not 
take such an exaggerated view of your duty, as mistress 
of the mansion, my child I” He took the salver from 
Gisola’s hands with a stern glance, and gave it to a ser- 
vant who was passing. “And I hear, besides, that it has 
pleased you to play the part of the Landgravine St. Eliza- 
betn in the village to-dav- Castle Greinsfeld is promoted 
to be an asylum for beggars and outcasts I” 


30S 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


“ Oh, leave to youth its ideals 1’^ cried the Prince, as he 
arose and came towards Gisela. “ We know only too 
well, my dear Baron Fleury, how they vanish with ma- 
turer years I Go on, take care of your protegees, my dear 
little Countess ; I, too, will contribute my mite. And now, 

before I go, let me ask one favour. I shall return to A 

on the day after to-morrow, but before my return I give 
to-morrow evening, a little entertainment in the forest ; 
will you be my guest upon the occasion 

“ Yes, your Highness, with great pleasure,” she replied 
without hesitation. 

“ But that is not all that I desire,” the Prince continued 
with a smile. “ I see that I must come to the assistance 
of your tender, over-anxious father, — he might keep you 
languishing in solitude for years from groundless appre- 
hensions lest your former malady should return. I there- 
fore appoint next week for your presentation at court, and 
I anticipate with great delight the surprise of the Prin- 
cess when she sees the Countess Yoldern risen again 
before her.” 

The Minister remained silent during these remarks 
His eyelids drooped low, and not a muscle in his coun- 
tenance moved, but his cheeks grew greenish in hue. 

But the physician started as if from an electric shock. 

“ I pray your Highness’s pardon, but your Highness’s 
most gracious commands terrify me exceedingly,” he 
stammered. “ My sacred duty as a physician ” 

“Ah bah, doctor!” the Prince interrupted him, while his 
little gray eyes twinkled with displeasure. “ You seem 
to me to overstep the limits of your duty. It quite pro- 
vokes me to find you so entirely incapable of giving his 
Excellency any encouragement.” 

The doctor collapsed, and retired in disgrace. Royal 
displeasure I What a thunder- clap I 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


309 


Frau von Herbeck stood stupefied at his humiliation. 
At her first glance towards his Excellency’s face she had 
felt resolute and belligerent, — that was past. Neverthe- 
less she found courage for a feeble remonstrance. 

“ There is only one obstacle, your Highness,” she ven- 
tured to remark. “ The Countess has no toilette ” 

“Do not speak of that!” the Minister interrupted hei 
sternly. “ His Highness’s commands remove all obstacles. 
The Baroness will provide a suitable toilette.” 

At this declaration Gisela started. 

“ No, I thank you, papa,” she said hastily. “ May I 
not come, your Highness,” she turned •‘o the Prince with 
a smile, “ in white muslin ?” 

“ Of course, — come just as you are at this moment ! 
We are not at the court of A . And now, au revoir 1” 

The carriages were already waiting, ^^nd the horse of 
the Portuguese had been led up. 

In a few moments profound silence reigned in the 
garden of Castle Greinsfeld. But Gisela stood for a long 
time beneath the lindens, following with her eyes the 
clouds of dust that marked the departing carriages. 
Joy and pain alternated in her soul. Ne^’^er could she 
forget the look with which he had drawn her to his breast. 
. . . . And yet, and yet, he was armed t.) the teeth 

against her I . . . 

Meanwhile Frau von Herbeck was running about the 
castle like one possessed, — she had not a single dress 
that was not frightfully old-fashioned. And besides, 
the air around was heavy with a tempest that must 
break above her head. . . . She had never oefore 

known any combination of circumstances so aflbet bi#s 
Excellency as to turn his face to an atrabiliar hue 


310 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


CHAPTER XXY. 

It was seven o’clock in the evening when the young 
Countess Sturm’s carriage rolled through the gar- 
den of Castle Arnsberg. The woodland fete was not to 
begin before eight o’clock, but Frau von Herbeck had 
received a few lines from his Excellency requiring her 
to bring the Countess to Arnsberg an hour earlier. 

These lines, of which Gisela knew nothing, fell like 
refreshing dew upon the fevered mind of the governess ; 
they were written in the old familiar tone, and their 
closing assurance that the high-born, wayward orphan 
stood more than ever in need of her prudent care, 
transported her to the seventh heaven. 

His Excellency, then, was going to put the best face 
upon the matter, to conform to necessity, and he would 
not hold the governess responsible for what was the 
result of mischievous chance and the self-will of his 
obstinate stepdaughter. Everything was now to be 
done to conceal the defective education of the young girl, 
who had hitherto been devoted to a life-long seclusion, 
and until its defects could be repaired this task was en- 
trusted to her. She was evidently selected to accompany 
the Countess whenever she appeared at court, — at last, 
after long years of exile, she was to breathe that delb 
cious air. Enchanting prospect I 

There was, indeed, one dark shadow upon the promised 
land, and it was caused by the intractability, and what 
she termed the indolence, of her pupil. Gisela, in her 
simple, unsuitable attire, sat beside her so negligently, so 
lost in thought, that the irritated governess could plainly 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


311 


Bee that the girl was thinking of anything but the mo- 
mentous occasion before her. Frau von Herbeck thought 
of her own first appearance at court, and of the various 
young ladies whose debuts she had witnessed, — ^their 
cheeks had been crimsoned with excitement, and their 
eyes full of expectation and anxiety. Gisela’s self-pos- 
sessed composure greatly irritated her, and numberless 
possible blunders hovered before her eyes like menacing 
phantoms. 

The carriage was rolling through the garden of the 
castle. In evidence of his undiminished favour, his 
unalterable' confidence in his minister, the Prince had 

invited every one from A admissible to court, to the 

fete in the Arnsberg forest, — it must be made the topic of 
the day throughout the country. 

Frau von Herbeck’s heart swelled, and she forgot her 
cares as she looked out at the gay garden. The brilliant 
toilettes of the ladies glimmered here and there among 
the trees, — and several groups of gentlemen were talking 
and smoking beneath the orange trees, — all were beguil- 
ing the time as best they could until the beginning of the 
festival. As the carriage passed, a gaze of astonishment, 
— almost of alarm, — greeted the youthful figure with fair 
flowing hair and the strangely indifferent bearing. A 
second glance passed rapidly over the little stout lady by 
her side, and then the gentlemen lifted their hats and the 
ladies waved their pocket-handkerchiefs. It was a sort 
of triumphal entry for Frau von Herbeck. ‘ Her dear 
old friends’ were evidently delighted to see her again. 

In accordance with the instructions she had received, 
she conducted the young Countess to the apartments occu- 
pied by the Minister and his wife. 

Whilst all the other passages and staircases in the 
White Castle resounded to the tread of feet hurrying to 


312 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


and fro, the corridor which the two ladies entered was 
perfectly quiet. The dark blue shades hung smoothly 
before the windows, excluding the glowing rays of the 
afternoon sun, and at the same time every breath of air. 
The blue twilight and the sultry silence had a depress- 
ing influence upon the heart. 

Gisela glided swiftly past the doors of the apartment b 
of the man with the marble features. The relation be- 
tween him and herself had suddenly altered entirely in 
character. She was openly and decidedly opposed to 
him, and she knew that every word exchanged between 
them must be like the spark produced by flint and steel ; 
she was determined to pursue fearlessly the course she 
had resolved upon, and yet her maidenly timidity shrank 
from a rude conflict ; she was afraid of a tete-a-tete with 
her stepfather, but she could not escape it. 

Just as she was slipping past, the door of the study 
was opened, and the Minister appeared upon the thresh- 
old. The pale blue light played around his face and made 
it almost ghastly. He uttered no word of salutation ; he 
seemed to wish to avoid every sound, but gently, although 
firmly, he seized the young girPs hand, and drew her into 
his room. His finge'rs were cold as ice. Gisela shud- 
dered, as if their deadly chill struck to her very heart. 

With a wave of his hand he dismissed the disappointed 
governess, and the door closed noiselessly upon the father 
and stepdaughter. 

If the corridor without had been strangely sultry, in 
this small room, which she had been forced to enter 
against her wish, Gisela felt as though she should be 
stifled. The shutters were closed ; light came through 
their narrow slits only sparingly to linger behind the 
Turkish curtains, here and there disclosing upon them 
a huge orange-coloured arabesque. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


313 


The Minister closed the only window that was open. 
The air was heavy with the sickening perfume which 
his Excellency so loved, and which, as far back as Gisela 
could remember, he had always used about his person 
She hated that odour. 

She stood motionless near the threshold, while the 
Minister carefully closed the window. Involuntarily her 
hand sought the latch, as if to secure herself a retreat. 
In the whole room, which she had hated from her child- 
hood, there was only one object upon which her eyes 
could rest with pleasure, — the portrait, painted in oil, 
of her dead mother ; it hung above the Minister’s writ- 
ing-table. The broad gilt frame gave only a feeble glit- 
ter indeed, in the half-light, and the outline of the charm- 
ing figure, with wild flowers in her lap and in the golden 
curls of the meekly bowed head, faded away into the 
shadow ; but Gisela’s gaze nevertheless sought the depths 
of those large, gray, dovelike eyes, that were gazing out 
into the world as innocently and happily as if her path 
through it were all adorned with the lovely blossoms 
that filled her lap and hands. 

“ Gisela, my dear child, I have something to say to 
you,” the Minister said, as he came towards her. His 
voice was soft and tender, but very mournful. Gisela 
well knew that ominous tone ; she had always heard it 
whenever she had been extremely weak and ill, — when 
the physician had stood at her bedside with a shrug of 
his shoulders and a wise shake of his head, and Frau 
von Herbeck had wrung her hands. It only completed 
the painful impression that this moment had made upon 
her. 

Probably its effect was visible in her face, — the Minis- 
ter stood close by her for a moment, observing with a 
21 


314 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


silent frown her attitude, that seemed to threaten instant 
flight. 

“ Let us have no folly, Gisela I” he said with solemn 
menace, raising his thin, white forefinger. “ I am com- 
pelled to appeal to your understanding, to your resolution, 
and more than all, to your heart. In the course of an 
hour you will know that from this time there must be an 
end to all your folly and extravagance I” 

He motioned her to a seat in the nearest arm-chair. . 
. . . But at this very moment the portiere of a side- 

door was drawn aside, and her beautiful stepmother stood 
within the room, as suddenly and unexpectedly as if she 
had been wafted in by the clouds of rose-coloured gauze 
that enveloped her exquisite figure. But any such idea 
was dispelled by the bearing and expression of counte- 
nance of the beautiful woman. She looked as if she 
would have gladly stamped those little feet upon the 
carpet, her cheeks glowed with the feverish flush which 
Fraur von Herbeck had so anxiously missed in Gisela, 
and her dark eyes gleamed with unbridled passion. 

She stepped up to the young girl, and then raising her 
head, which had been bowed down, she measured her 
stepdaughter with a slow glance from head to foot. 
Gisela recoiled before the satanic expression that made 
the lady’s delicate nostrils quiver and closed her lips so 
firmly that for an instant their crimson outline entirely 
disappeared. 

“Aha, here you are!” she said in a hoarse voice. 
“ You have carried your point, my poppet. And next 
week there is to be a grand presentation at court I Well, 
the Princess is to be congratulated upon having one more 
young bean-pole about her.” 

The Minister, who had been about to seat himself, 
started up. Through the open door bright light streamed 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


315 


into the darkened room, — Jt wove a kind of halo about 
the lady in rose-coloured gauze, but it fell also upon her 
husband’s features, — they showed undisguised anger and 
astonishment. 

“ Jutta, control yourself I” he said between his teeth, 
“ Yon know that here in my study I am not the same 
man who appears in your drawing-rooms, and that ever 
since we were married I have forbidden your sudden 
entrance here.” 

His eyes rested for a moment upon his wife’s dress as 
she stood before him in silent defiance. 

“ Allow me to ask why you are already dressed in this 
theatrical costume. Have you no duties as hostess in a 
house filled with guests ?” 

“ I am not hostess to-day, but the Prince’s guest, — the 
Countess Schliersen does the honours, your Excellency!” 
she replied. “And I began to dress thus early because 
my toilette requires time, and Mademoiselle Cecile is 
so tediously slow.” 

She turned away contemptuously from Gisela, and with 
both hands threw back the veil of silver tissue that floated 
around her head like moonlight. Her incomparable 
beauty was shown to the greatest advantage in her ideal 
costume, but it appeared to produce no impression upon 
her husband. His brow contracted more gloomily than 
before, involuntarily he passed his hand over his eyes, as 
though they were unpleasantly dazzled ; and in truth there 
rayed forth such brilliancy from her figure that the stars 
from the skies seemed to be sprinkled over her. Upon the 
airy gauze were scattered only simple white roses, but 
upon their tender milk-white leaves diamonds lay like 
dew-drops, and here and there single stones flashed from 
the gauze itself, as though the dew from the flowers had 
fallen amid its rosy folds. Sprays of blossoms gleamed 


316 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


^so amid the lady’s black curls, but they were not natural, 
they were fuschias made of diamonds, and from their cups 
diamond“dust fell sparkling upon her brow. 

“ Is this the gypsy costume in which you were to appear 
to-day, Jutta ?” asked the Minister, not without sternness 
in his tone, as he pointed to his wife’s dress. 

“ I gave up the gypsy character to the Sontheim, your 
’Excellency; it pleases me to be Titania to-day,” she re- 
plied flippantly. 

“ But was there any need for such a lavish display of 
diamonds?” He was evidently much irritated. “You 
know my antipathy to jewels in such superabundance — ” 

“ You never had it until lately, my friend I” she inter- 
rupted him. “And I have puzzled my brain in vain to 
discover what has suddenly caused you to despise these 
jewels which you once thought indispensable to your wife’s 
appearance in public But, indeed, what do I care about 
your change of opinion in the matter I I adore these 
stones^; I shall adorn myself with them as long as my 
hair is black and my eyes can sparkle, as long as I draw 
breath. I have and I hold them, and I shall know how 
to defend my right to them I” 

How the lovely Titania’s little white teeth shone be- 
neath the short upper lip ! 

“Au revoir, in the forest, beautiful Countess Ybldern!” 
she cried, with an almost frenzied burst of laughter, to the 
young girl, and then she vanished again, as though borne 
away by a whirlwind. 

The Minister looked after her until the last rosy glim 
mer of her dress had disappeared, and the hasty tread ol 
the little heels to her boots died away behind a distani 
door. Then he shut the side door carefully, but did noi 
close the portiere.' Portieres are excellent hiding-places 
for listeners. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


31T 


“Mamma is very much excited,” he said with apparent 
composure to Gisela, who, in her surprise, stood as if 
rooted to the spot. “Alarm lest to-night’s festivity should 
bring on a sudden return of your nervous malady almost 
deprives her of reason. And she is, besides, tortured by 
anxiety lest your presentation at court, for which you are 
entirely unprepared, should involve us in endless embar- 
rassments, from your utter inexperience of the world and 
its ways. She has no suspicion, artless woman that she 
is, that this presentation never can and never will take 
place. I cannot quiet her by telling her of this fact, — the 
announcement must come from your lips, Gisela.” 

He took her hand again and held it between his own, — 
those icy fingers trembled, — and when the young girl, in 
surprise, gazed searchingly into her stepfather’s sallow 
face, the eyes beneath the drooping lids avoided her own. 
With gentle force he drew Gisela down upon a sofa beside 
him, then sprang up once more, and opening the door into 
the corridor, made sure that there was no one near. 

“ There is a secret,” he said, returning, and in a sup- 
pressed tone ; “ a secret to which I shall only once give 
utterance, — it must pass my lips and reach your ears, and 
then be hushed forever. I would most gladly have spared 
you for another year, but it is your own fault. Your rash 
ride has suddenly altered your course of life. I am com- 
pelled to tell what I could wish to have suppressed forever.” 

This preface was mysterious, dark as night itself, and 
well calculated to terrify an inexperienced girl of eighteen. 
The shudder that we feel at hearing some news which, 
although it does not tell directly of misfortune, hints at it 
in dim, dark perspective, ran through the young Countess’s 
frame, but her pale features changed not one whit. She 
sat opposite her stepfather in breathless attention ; she no 
longer trusted that melancholy, cajoling voice, since she 
27* 


818 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


knew that it could grow as sharp and cutting as a whetted 
dagger. 

Me pointed to her mother’s portrait. Her eyes were 
now accustomed to the dim light in the room ; she could 
see the outline of every object more distinctly, and the 
light figure with flower-crowned head emerged from the 
shadow, — the expressive eyes smiled upon her, and one 
might almost have thought that the extended hand was 
about to toss the flowers with which it was filled to the 
orphan daughter. 

You were very young when she died, — you never 
knew her,” the Minister said softly. “And therefore in 
your education we could appeal less to her memory than 
to your grandmother’s. But she was an angel, — gentle as 
a dove, — I loved her very dearly I” 

An incredulous smile flitted across the young girl’s face ; 
he had soon forgotten the angel for the passionate creature 
who had just rushed from the room. This portrait hung 
neglected in this room which his Excellency only occupied 
for a few days at intervals of several years, while in the 

ministerial mansion at A the demonic eyes of the 

second wife sparkled above his writing-table. 

“ She has hitherto had no influence upon your life,” 
he continued, “but from this time you must pursue the 
path which she herself marked out for you with a firm, 
steady hand, just before her early death. The paper which 

bears reference to it is at A ; it shall be placed n 

your hands as soon as I return to town.” 

He stopped, as if in expectation of some exclamation, 
some question from his stepdaughter, but she maintained 
a persistent silence, and apparently awaited with compo- 
sure some further revelation. In evident impatience he 
sprang up and walked hastily to and fro. 

“ You know that the larger part of the Ydldern estates 


COUNTESS CIS EL A. 


319 


comes from Prince Heinrich ?” he asked, suddenly stand 
ing still, in a tone which seemed to carry with it a deter 
mination to cut the dark knot by a single effort. 

“ Yes, papa,” replied Gisela, with an inclination of her 
head. 

‘‘ But you do not know by what means your grand- 
mother obtained possession of them ?” 

“ No one has ever told me anything about it, but I 
suppose that she bought the estates,” she rejoined, quietly 
and innocently. 

An ugly smile quivered about his Excellency’s lips. 
He seated himself again hastily, seized the delicate hands 
that lay folded upon Gisela’s lap, and drew them caress- 
ingly towards him. 

“ Come here, my child,” he whispered, I have some- 
thing to tell you that must shock your innocence for a 
moment. But let me tell you emphatically at the same 
time that there are thousands of such cases, and that the 
world judges them very leniently. You are eighteen 
years old ; you cannot and must not always be a child 
with regard to certain subjects. Your grandmother was 
the friend of the Prince ” 

“ I know that, and, as far as I understand the friend- 
ship between them, he must have adored her like a 
saint !” 

‘‘ Take a less saintly view of the matter, my child ” 

“ Oh, papa, do not say that again I” she interrupted 
him, in an imploring tone. “I learned only yesterday 
that grandmamma had too little heart.” 

“ Too little ?” He leaned back with a smile ; for one 
moment the marble face was full of lines and wrinkles, — 
it could be wonderfully expressive when it lost its iron 
rigidity, — ‘‘ Too little ?” he repeated again. “ How am I 
to understand that, my dear ?” 


320 


COdNTESS GISELA. 


She was unkind to the poor, — she threatened to have 
the dogs set on them.’^ 

Again the Minister sprang up, — this time in an out- 
break of rage. He stamped his foot, and an oath seemed 
about to burst from his lips. 

“ Who put such stuff into your head he cried fiercely. 
He found himself driven back from his goal, — ^the pure 
childlike soul had unfolded its white wings and hovered 
above him, making it difficult indeed for him to soil its 
white plumage with his experience of the world and its 
wisdom. 

“Well, then,” he said frowning, after a short pause, 
aud sitting down impatiently, “ if you will have it so, 
your grandmother was the Prince’s saint ; he loved her so 
idolatrously that when he adored her most he made a 
will by which he disinherited his own relatives and con- 
stituted the Countess Ydldern his sole heir.” 

Gisela’s face changed instantly, — she interrupted him by 
a gesture, — “Of course grandmamma protested earnestly 
against such injustice I” she said breathlessly but con- 
fidently. 

“ Oh, child, it was all different from what you imagine. 
Why, let me tell you, the whole world would have laughed 
if your grandmother had acted in accordance with your 
ideas, — one does not protest so vehemently against ac- 
cepting half a million, my love 1 In that respect not a 
particle of blame attaches to your grandmother, who 
quietly accepted her inheritance; the fault lay with Prince 
Heinrich, not with her I But now we come to a point 
where even I do not excuse ” 

“Papa, I would rather die than hear it!” the young 
Countess interposed in a dull monotone. She sat there 
with ashy face and trembling lips, leaning her head upon 
the cushions of the sofa. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


321 


“ Oh, my darling, we do not die so easily, — you will 
live on, even after you know all about this matter; and, 
if J may advise you, you will try to forget it as soon as 
possible. The Prince’s will had been made for years, 
and his relations with your grandmother were undis- 
turbed, when suddenly evil tongues made mischief be- 
tween them, and it sometimes happened that they parted 
fiom each other in anger. At last the Countess Ydldern 
gave a great masked ball at Greinsfeld, at which the 
Prince did not appear, — there had been a quarrel between 
them again. Suddenly towards midnight your grand- 
mother was told that Prince Heinrich lay dying; no one 
knows to this day who told her. She rushed from the 
ball-room, threw herself into her carriage, and drove to 
Arnsberg ; your mother, then a girl of sixteen, whom the 
Prince loved like a father, accompanied her.” 

He paused for a moment. The experienced diplomatist 
hesitated involuntarily to deepen the falsehood he had 
introduced into his picture. He took up a smelling bot- 
tle and held it towards the deathly pale face, that with 
closed eyelids was leaning back among the sofa cushions. 
At his touch Gisela opened her eyes and sat upright, — she 
repulsed his hand. 

“ I am not ill, — go on,” she said hastily, but with de- 
cision. “ Do you think it pleasant to be stretched upon 
the rack?” A heart-breaking look was in her brown eyes. 

“The end is soon told, my child,” he continued, low- 
ering his voice; “but hold up your head, — do not, I en- 
treat you, look so distressed ! You must remember where 
you are, and that to-day the very walls have ears. The 
Prince was dying when the Countess Ydldern sunk down 
breathless at his bedside, but he retained sufficient con- 
sciousness to thrust her away, — he must have been deeply 
incensed against her. A second will lay just completed 
V 


322 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


upon the table, signed by the dying man and by Herr 
von Zweiflingen and Herr Eschebach, who were present. 
It devised all his property to the Prince and his relatives 

at A . On that momentous night I myself was on 

my way to town to bring the Prince to a death-bed 
reconciliation. Prince Heinrich died with curses upon 
your grandmother on his lips, and half an hour after- 
wards she, — with the consent of von Zweiflingen and 
Eschebach, — threw the second will into the fire, and took 
possession of the inheritance!” 

Gisela uttered a heart-piercing shriek. Before the 
Minister could prevent her, she sprang from her seat, 
threw up the window, and pushed back the shutter, so 
that the last brilliant rays of the setting sun covered floor 
and walls with their crimson light. 

“Now tell me again in full daylight that my grand- 
mother was a felon !” she cried, her sweet, gentle voice 
breaking into a shrill sob. 

The Minister rushed towards her like a tiger, and tore 
her away from the window, while he pressed his white 
fingers upon her delicate lips. 

“ Frantic girl, you are lost if you do not hold your 
tongue 1” he hissed, drawing her back to the sofa. She 
sank down among the cushions and covered her face with 
her hands. For one moment he stood still before her ; 
then he walked slowly to the window and closed it again. 
His feet glided noiselessly over the carpet upon which 
they had just stamped so furiously, and the hands which 
had just seized the delicate girlish form in so rude a 
grasp, were laid softly, in all their slender, aristocratic 
beauty, upon his stepdaughter’s head. No beaGt of prey 
could sheathe his claws more quickly than could this 
man control all outward manifestation of brutal violence. 

“ Child, child, — there is a demon in you that woifld 


COUNTESS GISELA 


323 


rouse the most placid nature to frenzy,” he said, gently 
and cautiously drawing away her hands from her face. 
“ Rash creature I In the first moment of alarm woras 
escape from us that have no actual meaning. Did I 
not just cry, ‘ you are lost V ” He laughed aloud. “ Quite 
classic I A theatrical commonplace, as effective as if 
from the lips of some stage knight in armour. What 
reflections rush upon the mind at such moments I 1 
thought of everything just now, Gisela,” he continued, 
very seriously. “ All those laughing, talking people 
who are wandering about outside there, with fawning, 
honeyed words upon their lips, would have become a vili- 
fying, abusive mob, had your heedless cry reached 
their ears. That miserable rabble crawled in the dust 
before the Countess Voldern ; they were quite ready in 
their time to enjoy the wealth of the beautiful woman, — 
but none the less is it persistently and amiably whispered 
among them that the Voldern inheritance was actually 
stolen.” 

“ And they are right. The royal family has beeu 
robbed most shamefully!” said Gisela in a dull voice 
that sounded almost like the moan of the dying. 

“Very true, my child, but no human ear must ever 
hear that. I know well your frank, rash manner of ex* 
pressing yourself. I am a man, — no tender, sensitive 
girl,— and not even related by blood to your grandmother, 
and yet that sentence from your lips, so hard, even although 
it be just, pierces me like the stab of a dagger. I never 
could have designated the act in those words.” 

He paused for a moment. His severe reproof produced 
not the slightest effect upon the pale beautiful face at his 
side ; there was something implacable in the lines that 
bad appeared around the childlike lips. 

Do not imagine,” he continued more quickly, “ that J 


324 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


wish to excuse the wrong that has been done, — not at 
all ; on the contrary, I say, it must be atoned for.’^ 

“ It must be atoned for,” the young Countess repeated, 
‘‘ and that immediately.” 

She was about to spring up, but the Minister had 
already passed his arm around her waist and held her 
firmly. 

“Will you be kind enough to tell me what you contem- 
plate doing?” he asked as she struggled to free herself 
rom his detested grasp. 

“ I am going to the Prince ” 

“ Indeed I you are going to the Prince to say, ‘ Your 
Highness, here I stand, the granddaughter of the 
Countess Yoldern. I accuse my grandmother of dishon- 
esty ; she was a criminal ; she robbed your royal house 
of an inheritance. What do I care that this accusation 
brands a long line of blameless men, who, during their 
lives, guarded, like a priceless jewel, the honour of their 
nande ? What do I care that this woman was my mother’s 
mother and cherished my earliest years most faithfully ? 
There must be atonement, instant atonement, although I 
commit the frightful injustice of accusing where dead lips 
can no longer defend I The woman lies cold and mute in 
the ground. She must bear this heavy burden of guilt 
for all eternity, while possibly, if she were alive, she 
might throw into the balance many an extenuating cir- 
cumstance.’ No, my child,” he continued gently after a 
short pause, during which he had vainly endeavoured to 
look into the face hidden by the slender fingers, “we 
cannot untangle this knot so hastily and recklessly if we 
would not ourselves sin most deeply. On the contrary, 
many years must pass before the lost inheritance can be 
returned to the rightful heirs. Until then sacrifices must 
be niade, not by you alone, but by me also, and I acqui- 


COUNTESS GISEhA. 


325 


esce joyfully. Arnsberg, that I purchased la^vfully for 
thirty thousand dollars, belongs to that inheritance ; iu 
ray will I will bequeath it to the royal family, thus cur- 
tailing your mother’s property considerably. You see 
that we, too, are compelled to suffer for the Yoldern name, 
and for the sake of your grandmother’s memory.” 

The young Countess was still silent, her face, hidden 
in her hands, sunk lower upon her breast. 

“ And your own mother, your good innocent mother, 
thought as I think, — the wrong can only be silently atoned 
for,” the Minister said further. “ On that night, kneeling 
by the Prince’s bedside, she was obliged to be a witness 
of the act, — she went through life with that dark secret 
hidden in her breast, — she never even dared to remind 
her mother of what had taken place ; she was too timid, 
— but when her children were snatched from her by death, 
she said, with a shudder, that it was a just Nemesis I 
Shortly before her death I learned from her own lips what 
had often made her dear eyes so unspeakably sad and 
mournful, — let me tell you, my child, how much I suffered 
beneath their mute complaining.” 

“ I wish to know the end, papa I” Gisela gasped. 
She would a thousand times rather hear the voice of this 
man in menace, angry, stinging with rage, than whisper- 
ing in this familiar, tender tone. 

‘‘ I will be brief and to the point then, ray daughter,’^ 
he said coldly. He leaned back stiffly and haughtily 
among the cushions. “Since it so pleases you, I will 
simply execute the duty which devolves upon me. Your 
mother authorized me to acquaint you, as- sole heir of the 
V'dldern property, with this secret in your nineteenth 
year, whether your grandmother were then living or not. 
If I have forestalled her desire by a year the fault is your 
own j your own folly has brought it about. Your mother 

28 


326 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


also desired that you should be educated in the strictest 
retirement; you see now that it was not the state of your 
health only that necessitated your lonely residence at 
Greinsfeld. Your mother’s last will prescribes a life of 
utter self-sacrifice for you. You will honour her wishes, 
Gisela I The thought that through you the terrible in- 
justice might one day be expiated, without attainting the 
dear name of Yoldern, caused a smile of content in her 
last moments.” 

He hesitated ; he found it by no means easy to convey 
the hardest part of his revelations in appropriate words. 

“If we were in A he continued, rather moie 

quickly, while he twirled the ends of his moustache, 
“ there would be no need of these explanations on my 
part, — I should simply hand over to you the papers which 
your mother left in my possession, — they contain every- 
thing which it costs me such trouble and pain to tell you. 
Your young life must be confined within still narrower 
liinits, my poor child I The entire income o'* those estates, 
which you have unlawfully inherited, must be devoted to 
the poor of the country. I am appointed to dispense it,— 
the duty being imposed upon me of yearly accounting to 
you for every farthing of it. Upon your retirement from 
the world you must appoint me your ostensible heir, but 
I must bequeath the estates in question to the royal 
family in my will as their grateful friend I” 

Gisela’s hands dropped ft-om her face. She turned her 
head slowly and mechanically, and her lustreless eyes 
gazed steadily at the lips of the speaker, which quivered 
with a slight nervous tremour that he could not sup- 
press. 

“ And what is this retirement to which I am destined ?*• 
she asked, emphasizing every word. 

“A convent, my dear Gisela. You must pray that your 


COUNTESS GISELA. 327 

grandmother’s soul may be absolved from its weight of 
sin.” 

She did not scream now, — a vague smile flitted across 
her face. 

“What I am I to be hidden in a convent? between 
four high narrow walls? I who have grown up in the 
green forest ?” she gasped. “ To see as long as 1 live 
only a narrow strip of sky above me ? To repeat prayers 
day and night all my life long, always the same words, 
which must sound like empty babble after the first few 
days ? Must I be forced to be no longer the image of 
God, but a dull machine deprived of all heart and soul? 
No! no I no! . . 

She sprang up and extended her arm commandingly 
towards her stepfather. 

“ If you knew what lay before me you should have 
directed my thoughts from my earliest childhood in a 
manner to reconcile me to my terrible future, — but instead 
you have left me to form my own conclusions, and I will 
tell you what I think of convents; — if ever man strayed 
from God and the light of reason, it was when he in- 
vented convents. What madness is it to confine a num- 
ber of human beings in one house that they may serve 
God ! They do not serve Him. They make His laws of 
no effect, for they allow powers to rust in idleness that 
were given them to use. They bury the talent that He 
bestowed upon them ; and the less they think the more ar- 
rogant they become. Parading their stupidity as sanctity, 
they do not work, they do not think, they are a parcel of 
isolated useless human drones fed by the labour of others !” 

The Minister rose ; his face was as livid as that of a 
corpse He seized the young girl’s arm and put it down. 

“ Collect yourself, Gisela, and reflect upon what you 
are maligning. They are consecrated institutions ” 


328 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


“Who consecrated them ? Human beings themselves. 
God never said when He created man, — ‘ Conceal your- 
self behind stone walls, and despise all the glory and 
beauty that I have given to the world.’ ” 

“ It is most unfortunate for you, my child, to carry 
such a philosophy with you into your new life !” said the 
Minister, shrugging his shoulders. He stood before her, 
his arms folded. For one moment each gazed into the 
other’s eyes, as though each would try the strength of the 
other in view of the gathering tempest. 

“ I shall never enter upon this new life, papa !” This 
declaration, made by those pale lips so explicitly and 
resolutely, kindled a savage glow in his Excellency’s 
eyes, now wide open. 

“ Could you, indeed, be so unnatural as to disregard 
the will of your dying mother ?” he asked quickly. 

Gisela stepped before her mother’s portrait. 

“ I never knew her, and yet I know what she was,” 
she said. Her lips trembled, and a shudder passed 
through her, but her voice* sounded firm and gentle. 
“ She ran about the fields with those little feet, and 
plucked flowers, — so many that she coUld hold no more. 
She rejoiced in the blue sky, and loved everything, — the 
sunshine, the flowers, the whole world, and the people 
who inhabit it. If they had confined her in a cold, 
gloomy house, she would have beaten her hands agaiubt 
the walls in despair at her lost liberty. And could 
those happy eyes have ever rested upon me, desirir.g 
that her child’s poor little innocent life should be so 
buried alive ?” 

“ You see her there as a bride, Gisela. Then her coun- 
tenance was still sunny. The latter years of her life 
were very grave, and well fitted to induce her to leave 
directions for her child’s future that^ ” 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


329 


“ Could she do that ? Have pareuts the power to say 
to their child, when they are utter strangers to its soul, 
and its eyes have scarcely opened upon the world, ‘ We 
condemn you to life-long imprisonment V Is it not the 
cruelest selfishness to require a perfectly innocent being 
to expiate the sins of its ancestors 

She passed both hands across her brow, which was 
throbbing wildly. 

“ But it shall be as my mother wishes,” she said, with 
a long-drawn sigh. “ I will be silent, and carry the evil 
secret in my breast, as she did, — the stolen estates shall 
return to the royal family by inheritance. I will live in 
retirement, but not in a convent.” 

The Minister, whose features had become composed, 
started at this conclusion. 

“ What I” he ejaculated. 

“The income of the property shall be divided among the 
poor of the land during my life, but by myself,” she quietly 
interrupted him. “ I will, as far as I may, absolve my 
grandmother’s soul from sin, although not by telling the 
beads of a rosary. I know, papa, that I cannot servo 
God more truly than by living for mankind, by devoting 
all my powers ” 

A shrill burst of laughter interrupted her ; it echoed 
hoarsely from the walls. 

“ Oh most noble Landgravine of Thuringia! I see already 
cripples and beggars flocking to Castle Greinsfeld, — I can 
see you cooking thin soup and knitting long woollen 
stockings for the refreshment and comfort of starving and 
suffering humanity I I see you heroically clinging to your 
resolution of presenting to the mocking world the spec* 
tacle of an elderly virgin, — but some fine day a gallant 
knight presents himself at the gates of this asylum for 
misery, and the ‘service most pleasing to the Lord’ is all 
28 * 


330 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


forgotten, a mother’s last will is forgotten, — ^the poor are 
scattered to the winds; and the new Lord of Greinsfeld ac- 
cepts as his wife’s dowry the inheritance stolen from 

Prince Heinrich, and the royal family in A never 

sees a penny of it I Simpleton I” he continued angrily, 
and his voice sounded like the growl of an infuriated wild 
beast, “ do you imagine that because I have, with the 
greatest patience and forbearance, allowed you time 
to give utterance to your girlish wisdom, that I shall 
dutifully submit to your ingenious resolution ? Do you 
dare to suppose that your own will would be of the 
slightest avail opposed to my commands ? You are 
neither to think, to feel, nor to desire, you 9^e simply to 
obey. There is one course open to you, — if you refuse 
. to take it I will compel you. Do you understand me ?” 

“Yes, papa, I understand you, but I am not afraid. 
You have no power to compel me !” 

In speechless rage he raised his arm. The young girl 
never flinched at the menacing gesture. “ Do not dare 
even to touch me again I” she said with flashing eyes, 
but in a quiet firm voice. 

Just then a knock was heard at the door, — it opened 
noiselessly, and a servant appeared upon the threshold. 

“His Highness the Prince,” he announced with a low 
bow. 

The Minister uttered a half-suppressed oath. Never- 
theless he instantly advanced, while the servant flung the 
door wide open. 

“But, my dear Fleury, what am I to suppose?” cried 
the Prince as he entered the room ; his tone was jesting, 
but there was a cloud upon his brow, and there were un- 
disguised symptoms of annoyance in the small gray eyes. 
“ Have you quite forgotten that the entire gay world of 
A is assembled out there in the forest, burning with 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


331 


desire to do you homage ? The White Castle is already 
deserted, and you keep us waiting. An hour ago our 
lovely Countess’s arrival was announced to me, but I have 
not yet had a single glimpse of her, although you know 
that she is to be introduced to society upon my arm I” 

Gisela, who had been standing hitherto in the back- 
ground, came forward and courtesied. 

“ Ah, there you are I” cried his Serene Highness, 
extending both hands to her. “ My good Fleury, I could 
really scold you ! Frau von Herbeck — ” he turned 
towards the open door, the governess was standing in 
an attitude of timid expectation in the corridor — “ Frau 
von Herbeck tells me that the Countess vanished behind 
this door fully an hour ago.” 

“ I had an important communication, your Highness, 
to make to my daughter,” the Minister interposed. Per- 
haps for the first time he failed to preserve his sub- 
ordinate deferential bearing towards the Prince, — his 
Highness gazed at him in astonishment, the marble 
features had lost all their repose, and recklessly showed 
the greatest irritation. 

“ Do not suppose, my dear friend, that I wish to in- 
trude upon your family affairs!” he cried in confusion. 

I will retire immediately ” 

“ I have finished, your Highness,” rejoined the Minister. 
“ Gisela, do you feel well and strong enough ?” A men- 
acing glance was riveted upon the young girl’s face. 

Frau von Herbeck had an admirable comprehension cf 
such glances. 

“ If 1 might advise, your Excellency, the Countess 
will return to Greinsfeld without delay,” she said stepping 
forward. “ She looks terribly- ” 

“ And no wonder I” cried the Prince peevishly. “ The 
air ot this room is suffocating. It is ircomprehensible 


332 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


to me, my child, that you have endured it for an 
hour I” 

He offered his arm to Gisela. She timidly shrunk 
back, with downcast eyes. Could she enter into friendly 
intercourse with one who had been so shamefully de- 
ceived, betrayed? She was now an accomplice in the 
detestable crime, and must silently play her part, — her 
whole soul was in tumult. 

“ The air of the forest will soon revive her,” the old 
Prince said kindly and encouragingly, as he drew her 
trembling hand through his arm. 

“ I am not ill, your Highness,” she replied firmly, 
although her voice was weak, and she followed him out 
into the corridor, while the Minister, in taking his hat, 
overthrew a charming little porcelain statuette, which was 
shivered into fragments upon the floor of the room. 


CHAPTER XXYI. 

The old German forest by the lake, which by night 
had hitherto seen only silver moonbeams dancing upon 
its branches and the mossy carpet at its feet, had a bril- 
liant dream. A Prince’s gold and his Highness’s com- 
mands had again had the effect of the wishing-cap in the 
fairy tale, and the forest-meadow had been metamor- 
phosed beyond recognition in a few hours. These prep- 
arations for a brilliant illumination might, indeed, look 
rather meagre and poor in the light of the last rays of the 
setting sun, but when once all those wreaths of starry 
lights and the many-colojired lanterns gleamed in the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


333 


darkness of the summer night, the old forest must surelv 
think that the gnomes had transported from under ground 
a strip of fairy-land to dazzle the timid Dryads withal. 

The Prince’s nod had assembled wealth, splendour, 
and beauty in the little forest-meadow. The youngest 
and loveliest of the ladies were not yet visible, — they 
were to appear in tableaux as fairies, gypsies, bandits’ 
brides, and whatever other fantastic figures the forest 
suggests. A crimson curtain was arranged before the 
trunks of several mighty oaks, so that at a given moment 
it could be raised and vanish among the foliage, reveal- 
ing the motionless forms of youth and beauty in the 
midst of natural decorations, — an idea which artistic taste 
had helped to carry out. 

These preparations for a brilliant fete left nothing to 
desire, but it was by no means sure that it would end 
without interruption. The weather was oppressively 
hot ; fans and handkerchiefs were in continual motion ; 
even the atmosphere beneath the oaks and beeches was 
sultry. Not a leaf stirred ; the surface of the lake, usually 
broken by ripples, was smooth as molten lead in its en- 
tire circumference, — and the last light of the sun was 
diffused like a tawny glow over the sky. 

Slowly, with head depressed and hands clasped be- 
hind him^ the Portuguese quitted the forest-house. He 
was an invited guest, but he was not one of these people, 
who were all, without exception, bent upon amusement ; 
his gloomy, brooding countenance cast a shadow around 
it like the rising thunder-clouds on the distant horizon. 

Now and then the hum of voices in the forest-meadow 
penetrated, like the sound of distant surf, to the lonely 
forest-path. Whenever it did so, the Portuguese stood 
still, and his fiery eyes looked through the thicket with 
an expression of the deepest aversion ; but he continued 


.334 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


upoQ his way, like one determined to brave some hostile 
element and measure his strength against it. 

Suddenly there was a rustling among the bushes be- 
side him, — a charming gypsy stood before him and 
boldly arrested his progress. 

“ Hold I” she cried, presenting a pretty little pistol, 
evidently manufactured from pasteboard and gold paper. 

She wore a black half-mask, but the voice, in spite of the 
boldness and resolution that it manifested, was slightly 
tremulous ; the round, dimpled chin, and the lovely outline 
of the lower part of the cheeks, that gleamed like smooth, 
white velvet beneath the pendant lace of the mask, left 
not an instant’s doubt in the mind of the Portuguese that 
the beautiful maid of honour stood before him. 

“ I demand, sir, neither your amethysts nor topazes, 
nor your purse,” she said, with an effort to make her voice 
firm and sonorous. “ I ask only to be allowed to read 
your palm I” 

It was a pity that the pale, ethereal blonde could not 
witness her friend’s triumph, — the stern man could cer- 
tainly smile, — and how interesting his fine features became 
beneath the sunlight of that smile 1 

He drew off his glove and held out to her his right 
palm. 

She looked hurriedly around, and the eyes that glit- 
tered through her mask like black diamonds, peered 
suspiciously into the bushes. Her delicate fingers trem- 
bled perceptibly as they touched the hand of the Portu- 
guese. 

I see a star here,” she said, in a light jesting tone, 
as she apparently examined it with great attention. “It 
tells me that you possess great power over men’s hearts, 
even over royal hearts. But I must not conceal from you 
that you place too much reliance upon this power ” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


335 


There was a mixture of irony and amusement in the 
slight smile that flitted again across the man’s features. 
He stood before the charming fortune-teller so self-pos- 
sessed that it evidently cost her a struggle to maintain 
her part. 

You are laughing at me, Herr von Oliveira,” she said, 
dropping his hand and putting the pistol back into her 
girdle; “but I will explain what I have said. You do 
yourself an injury by your terribly careless' license of 
speech.” 

“ How can you tell, lovely mask, that I do not know 
that?” 

The bright eyes were bent in surprise upon the speak- 
er’s face. 

“ What I do you then knowingly slight what is for 
your own advantage ?” she asked hastily. 

“ Does it not all depend upon what I consider my own 
advantage?” 

She stood still for a few seconds, with downcast eyes 
quite bewildered ; nevertheless, she did not seem in- 
clined to relinquish her mission so quickly and without 
result. 

“ Of course, I cannot argue with you about that,” 
she began again. “ You will not dispute that it is not 
well to have enemies.” She took his hand again, but 
with hesitation, and touched the palm with her fore- 
finger. “And you have enemies, bitter enemies,” sho 
continued, falling into her former jesting tone. “Here, 
for example, I see three gentlemen who hold the keys of 
the chamberlain’s office ; they have nervous spasms the 
instant they scent the atmosphere of democracy ; I will 
not say that I, too, do not detest it. I can be bold of 
speech, can I not, sir ? Still, those three are not very 
dangerous. But here is an elderly lady, — she has great 


336 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


weight with his Highness, she has keen eyes, and a sharp, 
biting tongue.^' 

“ Upon what grounds does the Countess Schliersen 
honour me with her hatred ? ” 

“ Hu^h, sir I No names! I conjure you I” cried the 
lady. Again she glanced from side to side, and it seemed 
as though in her first moment of alarm she was about 
to lay her little hand upon the lips of the Portuguese. 
“ That lady is the patroness of piety everywhere, and 
cannot forgive you the Jewish children in your insti- 
tution.” 

“ Then the lady with the keen eyes and sharp, biting 
tongue sits in council ” 

“ Certainly, and has great influence. . . . You 

know the man with the marble face and heavy drooping 
eyelids ” 

“ Ah, the man who is prime minister over forty miles 
square and one hundred and fifty thousand people, and 
bears himself a la Metternich or Talleyrand ” 

“ He grows angry when your name is mentioned, -sir, 
— that is bad, very bad, and doubly significant for you, 
since, by your imprudence, you have caused his Highness 
to lend him a willing ear ” 

“ Aha, — did I not bow at the right times and accord- 
ing to rule ? ” 

She turned away from him provoked. 

“Herr von Oliveira, you make merry at the expense 
of our court,” said she offended, and with a shade of 
pertness. “Yet small as it is, it would seem, from what 
you said yesterday, that you look to it for the accomplish- 
ment of certain wishes of your own, — if I am not mistaken, 
you requested a private audience — - — ” 

“ But you are mistaken, sharp-sighted mask, — the au- 
dience must by no means be private, — ^but special, — I 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


337 


would rather the wide open skies and thousands of ears 
should witness it.” 

She looked with timid inquiry into the face that left her 
in doubt whether he were mocking her or whether he 
w are really condescending to tell her his wishes. 

“Well, then,” she said promptly, and with a bold- 
ness almost inconceivable in a maid of honour, “ I can 
assure you that this audience will hardly take place 

either in the White Castle, or in the capital at A , or 

under God’s open sky ” 

»Ahl ” 

“ Yesterday, while returning from Greinsfeld, you main- 
tained that a pious general was an absurdity I” 

“ Aha, was that remark so interesting that the ladies 
of the court know it already ? What I said was that the 
perpetual reference to God and his mercy in the mouth 
of a soldier enthusiastic in his profession disgusted me, — 
that thoughts of battle and slaughter were in my mind 
irreconcilable with constant, fervent devotion to Him who 
loves every victim of war like a father, — an attempt to re- 
concile the two can only be productive of one thing, — 
hypocrisy. And what else ?” 

“ What else ? In Heaven’s name, do you not know 
that his Serene Highness is such a thorough and devoted 
soldier that he would like to put all his subjects into 
uniform ?” 

“ I know that, lovely mask.” 

“ And also that the Prince would not for the world be 
accused of want of piety?” 

“ And that too.” 

“ Then it is a mystery to me I I cannot understand 
you, Herr von Oliveira. In a single day you have made 

yoirr presence at the court of A impossible,” she 

added in a mournful tone. 

W 


29 


338 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


The young lady was evidently sad and agitated. She 
rested her finger upon her chin and looked down at the 
tip of her little gold-embroidered boot. 

“ You understand, I see, his Highness’s peculiarities as 
well as I do,” she continued after a moment’s pause. “ It 
is entirely superfluous to tell you that he does nothing, 
indeed almost thinks nothing, apart from the man with 
the marble features and drooping eyelids. You probably 
know that it is impossible to have an interview with him 
without this man’s consent, but perhaps you do not know 
that that will never be given to your interview with his 
Highness. To-day is your last opportunity for seeing 
the Prince face to face, — use the time well I” 

She was about to re-enter the thicket, but she turned 
round once more. 

Sir, you will respect the secrets of a masquerade ?” 

“With inviolable fidelity.” 

“Then farewell, Herr von Oliveira I” 

It came softly, almost like a sigh, from the young lady’s 
lips. Her charming figure instantly disappeared among 
the bushes, — the crimson cap alone, with its pearl fringe, 
was visible now and then above the underwood. 

Oliveira walked on. If the beautiful maid of honour 
could have looked back into that determined countenance, 
she would have triumphed in the thought that her missiou 
had not been without result. 

The appearance of the Portuguese in the forest-meadow 
created a great sensation. The hum of voices sank for a 
moment to a whisper. The ladies collected in groups, and 
their gestures, and the intense curiosity in their eyes, 
were quite as expressive as the outstretched forefinger by 
which one naturally designates some object that seems 
to him worthy of remark. 

The three chamberlains shook the guest cordially by 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


339 


the hand, and undertook the tedious labour of introducing 
him with all the self-denjing grace of born courtiers. For- 
tunately for the interesting proprietor of the forest- 
house, the stream of names that fell upon his e irs was 
interrupted suddenly as by magic, — all started, and ranged 
themselves respectfully, in close lines, on the border of 
the forest, — the Prince was in sight 

Most of those whose eyes were now directed expect- 
antly towards the path leading from the lake, had for- 
merly known the Countess Yoldern. The gentlemeu. 
almost without exception, had been enthusiastic admirers 
of her beauty, and could not forget her. In their memory, 
indeed, luxurious splendour and the bewitching woman 
were identical; they had never seen her magnificent figure 
otherwise than clothed in delicate lace or glistening silk 
and satin, and yet, as the girl in simple white muslin ap- 
peared in the forest-meadow, leaning upon the Prince’s 
arm, the name of the buried Countess resounded on all 
sides. 

His Highness’s face beamed with delight at the success 
of the surprise. “ Countess Sturm I” he replied in a loud 
tone to their exclamations, as he pointed to Gisela. “ Our 
little Countess Sturm, who has been secluded in her sad, 
invalid retirement, only that she might at length burst 
upon the world like a charming butterfly.” 

All crowded around the young Countess with congratu- 
lations ; they never noticed that her lovely face was ashy 
pale, that her eyes sought the ground as though their lashes 
were heavy with tears, — it was only lovely modesty and 
confusion, and made her doubly attractive. The image of 
the brilliant, haughty, self-possessed Countess Yoldern 
paled beside this youthful grace and timidity. No one 
saw how the tableau curtain parted for a few seconds, 
and a pale, frowning brow, crowned with diamonds, and 


^ 340 OOUNTESS OISELA. 

two flasliing black eyes, appeared between its crimson 
folds, and gazed with consuming hatred at the girl, who 
was the centre of so much admiration. 

“ Well, my dear Baron, what do you say to this first 
appearance?” the Prince asked the Minister triumphantly, 
as he was conducting Gisela to a seat. 

His Excellency’s colour grew slightly greenish again, 
as Frau von Herbeck observed trembling, but the marble 
repose of his features was blameless. 

“I say, your Highness, that I belong to the skeptics,” 
he replied, with a cold smile, “ that I see the force of the 
trite but unassailable commonplace, ‘ No day can be 
called fine before night.’ I have as little confidence in 
this case as in the skies, which will certainly drench our 
illumination with a shower.” 

The Prince cast an anxious and fretful look at the 
heedless heavens, where the last glow of evening was 
rist fading. Some light clouds, that had hitherto appeared 
above the tops of the trees like pale yellow down, sud- 
denly grew dark, and looked foreboding enough ; neverthe- 
less, the Prince gave the sign for the fete to begin, and 
instantly Weber’s Jubilee overture sounded from the 
thicket. His Highness had summoned hither the excel- 
lent orchestra from the court chapel at A . 

During the music the Prince walked about saluting his 
guests. He approached Oliveira ; and his brow, indeed, 
contracted in a frown, and there was a certain hardness 
in his little gray eyes, but there was a certain power 
in the presence of the remarkable stranger, a cool self- 
possession, that made any condescension, or contemptu- 
ous ignoring, simply impossible. 

Countess Schliersen, who had been standing, with 
breathless expectation in every feature, at a short distance, 
suddenly rustled away indignantly, and upon his Excel- 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


341 


lency^s livid face appeared the contemptuous smile with 
which he was wont to regard the weakness of his 
friend and master. They had expected a crisis, — they 
had been sure that his most Serene Highness would have 
passed the Portuguese without a word, only regarding 
him with a blank stare that would have plunged the un- 
happy wretch into the depths of royal displeasure, and 
forced him to retire as quickly as possible, — and instead 
of that the weak old man suddenly forgot how shamefully 
he had been insulted ; — he saluted the Portuguese with a 
friendly wave of his hand, and talked to him as he did 
to the rest. 

Meanwhile the soul of one young girl in that assem- 
bly was suffering martyrdom. The strange voices that 
were ringing around Gisela with flattering words tortured 
her. Had not her father told her that these very people 
cherished the suspicion of her grandmother’s crime, and 
that therefore the evil whisper could not die ? And now 
they were all raving about the ‘ goddess-like Countess * 
whom they had loved and respected so profoundly 1 She 
felt an abhorrence of these people, who had one and all 
put on such a mask of conventionality, and with shame- 
less brows paraded their glittering lies as the very refine- 
ment of propriety and grace. 

And there against the trunk of a tree, in an easy almost 
negligent attitude, was leaning the man from the forest- 
house. He had retired thither after speaking with the 
Prince. His eyes wandered aimlessly over the crowd, — 
he seemed only to be listening to the wondrous orchestra. 

Gisela did not venture to look towards him. She 
turned away her head, overcome by shame and humiliation. 
She knew now why he had formerly thrust her from him 
in the forest-meadow with every sign of aversion ; she 
said to herself that he was quite right in rejecting the 
29 * 


COUNTESS GTSELA. 


M2 

hospitality she had offered him upon her own estate, — . 
we cannot receive hospitality from those we despise I 
He knew her grandmother’s evil reputation, — he knew 
as well as the rest of these people that the chief part 
of the property of the young Countess Sturm was stolen. 
He, with his character of proud, unimpeachable integrity, 
scorred from the bottom of his soul a race that had 
actaally deserved to stand in the pillory, and that yet, 
with all its consciousness of crime, had in its boundless 
arrogance trodden human beings beneath its feet. She 
was the last of this race, and she, too, true to the tradi- 
tions of her noble house, had placed her foot upon the 
necks of her inferiors, — she had imagined that, in right 
of her lofty birth, she ranked far above others, — while 
every trace of true nobility had vanished beneath her 
grandmother’s thieving hands. . . . 

And now she was spell-bound. She must be silent, — 
silent forever. She could not go to the lonely man yon- 
der, and, falling down before him, say : “ I know now 
that the sanctity was false I I suffer inconceivably ! I 
will pass my life in an endeavour to atone for that 
woman’s sin,— only take from me the curse of your con- 
tempt!” 

She sat there motionless, with a grave, pale face, and 
a whisper ran round the assembly, — “ She is beautiful, — 
the girl is wondrously beautiful ; but the Prince is mis- 
taken, — she has not recovered 1” 

Darkness came on so quickly that every eye was turned 
anxiously to the skies. There was certainly a huge pile 
of clouds above the tree-tops, but not a leaf nor twig, as 
yet, fluttered in the wind, which usually arises and in loud, 
trumpet-blasts heralds the coming storm. It was best 
to ignore the gloomy skies for awhile at least. The ices 
banished all thought of the heat, and any light from the 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


343 


teavens was superfluous at this moment, for in a second 
as though from a flashing spark of electricity, the wreaths 
of stars, lanterns, and torches flamed out and poured their 
brilliant waves of yellow light over lake, forest-meadow, 
and threatening skies. 

And now began the incomparable music of the Mid- 
summer-night’s Dream. The crimson curtain rolled up, — 
there lay Titania, reposing with her attendant fairies. 
The lady, sparkling with diamonds, had never achieved 
such a victory as at this moment ! The still, pale maiden, 
who had just been crowned by a Prince’s favour, was for- 
gotten ; the fresh, pure, young star was neglected for the 
seductive woman, whose exquisite figure reclined so lan- 
guishingly upon the flower-besprinkled moss 

There was a burst of applause, — the curtain had to rise 
again and again. The other tableaux created but little 
enthusiasm, — even the charming Esmeralda Sontheim 
suffered an eclipse. 

“ Beautiful Titania, are you satisfied with your tri- 
umph ?” asked the Prince, as the Baroness presented her- 
self before him at the close of the tableaux, leaning upon 
her husband’s arm. 

His Serene Highness was in a very good humour. In 
the pauses of the entertainment he had been talking with 
Gisela, and had discovered that, although his protegee 
was grave almost to sadness, she was not less quick and 
pointed in her replies than the witty Countess Voldern 
had been. 

*'Ab I your Highness, I should, perhaps, have been 
very vain and proud,” the lovely Titania replied in a 
gentle voice, but anxiety left me no opportunity to think 
of what you call my triumph. Whilst I had to lie there 
without moving, I saw only my poor child, — my little 
Gisela ; she looked so fearfully pale, I was almost dead 


344 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


with alarm. Your Highness, I fear, — I fear that my 
daughter has emerged from her seclusion too soon, and 
greatly to her disadvantage. Gisela, my child ” 

She paused. The young Countess had risen, — she sud- 
denly stood opposite her stepmother with truly queenly 
dignity. The pale face, which had just been so compas- 
sionately alluded to, was flushed, and the brown eyes 
regarded the false, pitiable actress with a look full of 
contempt. 

The victory was hers now, as his Excellency saw 
plainly in the Prince’s face, and in the countenances of 
the listening crowd that thronged around. 

“ Gisela, no scene, I entreat,” he said with an air of 
stern command, stepping forward, — he himself looked as 
if his nerves were about to betray him. “You like to 
excite yourself, but this is not the place for an attack of 
your spasms. Frau von Herbeck, conduct the Countess 
aside until she shall be composed again.” 

The tortured girl would have spoken, — but in sudden 
affright she closed her trembling lips. 

“Are all these diamonds genuine, your Excellency?” 
the calm, deep voice of the Portuguese was heard to ask. 
It sounded so commandingly that every one around was 
mute. Oliveira stood beside the Minister pointing to the 
* adored ’ jewels of the fairy queen. 

The Minister started as though he had received a blow 
upon his livid cheek, but his wife turned towards the 
speaker with an expression of profound indignation upon 
her beautiful face, — 

“ Do you imagine, sir, that the Baroness Fleury could 
bring herself to deceive the world with a single false 
jewel ?” she cried angrily. 

“ Her Excellency’s indignation is just, Herr von Oli- 
veira,” the Countess Schliersen declared, coming forward 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


345 


with her most malicious smile. “Every child ia the 
country can tell you that these wondrous dewdrops are 
without flaw, — they are the famous Yoldern family dia- 
monds. Their brilliant reputation, however, was first 
achieved when the beautiful Countess Voldern adorned 
herself with them. She knew how to wear diamonds.” 

She passed her hand caressingly over Gisela’s light, 
glistening hair. 

“ I am very desirous to see how this lovely young 
brow will look, crowned by that coronet,” she added, 
in an easy, ingenuous tone, pointing to the diamond 
fuchsias in the Baroness Fleury’s curls. 

This lady possessed the art of laying bare any sensi- 
tive point in a human soul, and sportively wounding it 
with her sharp knife. 

Her beautiful Excellency stood speechless before her 
pitiless tormentor, — the flush faded from her cheeks, and 
her delicate nostrils began to tremble. 

The delightful relations existing between the two ladies 
which enabled each to lacerate the other with smiling 
grace, frequently gave his Most Serene Highness an op- 
portunity for a display of tact and gallantry. On this 
occasion he interfered to prevent the threatened passage 
of arms. 

“You are fond of fine jewels, Herr von Oliveira?” he 
asked, in a raised voice that instantly produced silence. 

“I am a collector, your Highness,” the Portuguese re- 
plied, — he paused for a moment, and then said quickly, 
“ But that coronet,” and he pointed to Titania’s diadem, 
“ interests me greatly, as I have one in my possession 
just like it.^’ 

“ That is impossible, sir I” exclaimed the Baroness. 
“This diadem was set about four years ago by my 
own special directions, and the Parisian house that 


346 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


executed my commission promised to destroy the draw* 
ing for it immediately, that I might be secure from imi- 
tation.” 

“ I could swear that there is not the slightest differ- 
ence in the shape of the two ornaments,” said Oliveira, 
quietly, turning rather to the Prince with a half smile 
upon his lips. 

“ Oh, sir, this assertion of yours destroys one of my 
chief enjoyments I” the Baroness cried, half jestingly, 
half in a tone of complaint, as she raised her eyes to 
him with an inimitable expression of gentleness and fire, 
but she was startled by the coldness, the stern, imper- 
turbable gravity of his countenance. 

“ Jutta, think what you are saying !” said the Minister, 
reprovingly, in a hoarse voice, — every drop of blood had 
deserted his cheeks and lips. 

“ Why should I deny that it makes me unhappy to be 
robbed of one of my most exquisite designs ?” she asked, 
peevishly and pertly. 

She glanced with eyes sparkling with malice towards 
the Portuguese, so suddenly metamorphosed from an 
ardent adorer into a ruthless opponent. 

“ I do not at all fancy wearing anything that anybody 
else can wear. I would really give something to be able 
to convince myself with my own eyes what foundation 
there is for what you say, Herr von Oliveira I” 

“ Well, my love, that can very easily be done,” said 
the Countess Schliersen ; “ I confess that I, too, am a 
little anxious to see how Herr von Oliveira can justify 
his remark, — the forest house is at hand ” 

“ Will not your Highness deign to give the sign for the 
dance to begin? The young people are longing for it,” 
the Minister interposed, ignoring his wife’s eagerly ex- 
pressed wish and the Countess Schliersen’s proposition, 


COUNTESS JISELA. 


34T 


as if he had heard neither. The lady of the keen eyes 
and sharp tongue cast a penetrating glance of offended 
surprise at the countenance of her ally ; he suddenly 
appeared to forget her entirely. 

‘‘ Too soon, too soon, my dear Baron 1” said the Prince. 
“ The dance closes our programme !” 

‘‘ I am afraid, your Highness, that nothing will appease 
our enchanting Titania but a sight of the corpus delicti, 
said the Countess Schliersen in a jesting tone. “Would 
it not form a piquant intermezzo for the ladies, if Herr 
von Oliveira would give us an opportunity of judging for 
ourselves whether he is right The lady appeared 
utterly to forget, for the moment, that the Portuguese 
was to have been crushed this evening. 

“ It is too much to ask, my dearest Countess !” said his 
most Serene Highness, shrugging his shoulders and smil- 
ing. “ Remember, what a doubtful assemblage this is 
into which Herr von Oliveira would have to bring his 
costly treasures. Here are bandits, gypsies, and Heaven 
only knows how many suspicious characters besides I 
You see, Herr von Oliveira,” he turned to the Portu- 
guese, “ I should like to take your part, but you have 
rashly thrown a firebrand amongst us, — I am afraid 
there is nothing for it but to — adduce your proofs.” 

Oliveira bowed, without a word ; the lurid light of a 
torch fell upon his composed features, and cast upon the 
brown complexion an increased pallor. He took a card 
from his letter-case, wrote a few lines upon it, and de- 
spatched it, by a servant, to the forest-house. 

“ Ah ! we are going to see the diamonds I” cried some 
of the yoitnger ladies, gleefully clapping their hands. 
Many others drew near from all sides, and the beautiful 
maid of honour, who had hitherto kept aloof, appe^^ed 
with the delicate, pale blonde. 


348 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


‘‘But, Herr von Oliveira, do you keep such costly 
jewels in the lonely forest-house asked the blonde, 
raising to him in innocent inquiry those large blue eyes 
that testified to great nervous susceptibility. 

The Countess Schliersen laughed. 

“My child,” she cried, “you never can have seen the 
forest-house. It is not, indeed, hidden behind palisades 
and a moat, and I do not even know that it contains self- 
adjusting revolvers ; but there is something about it that 
says, ‘Stand off I’ The walls bristle with weapons and 
trophies of victory. I cannot actually aver that there are 
Indian scalps hanging there, but tiger skins and bear 
skins are lying about everywhere, and one glance is 
sufficient to convince you that the master’s bullets are 
pitilessly sure in their aim. Herr von Oliveira, you 
understand thoroughly how to defend your abode by 
the power of mystery; its whole air is what we call 
‘ gruesome.’ .... Apropos,” she said, gaily interrupting 
her lively description, “ I must confess that I actually 
ran away from your parrot to-day. Tell me, for Heaven’s 
sake, why that strange creature is perpetually screaming, 
in that ear-piercing voice, ‘ Revenge is sweet V ” 

Did the flickering flame of the torch change in hue, 
or was the change in the face of the Portuguese ? He 
looked as though the glare ascended from his cheeks, and 
in a broad band of light spread across his brow. 

For one moment Oliveira looked down and said no- 
thing, while all regarded him with eager curiosity. 

“ Some time ago the bird might have shamed many a 
child with the number of conversational phrases it had 
picked up.” He folded his arms across his breast in 
apparently ipipregnable composure and looked gravely 
around upon the company. “ Strangely enough it has 
forgotten them all hut this pnp sentence Its master. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


349 


to wliOm it was much attached, repeated these three 
words incessantly in the delirium of fever, uttering them 
even with his latest breath. Upon these words hangs 
a strange tale.” 

At these last words, which were spoken with slow em^ 
phasis, the blood left the proud, menacing brow, — it 
looked white as marble in the torchlight. 

The Countess Schliersen fixed her keen eyes upon the 
countenance whose expression might be controlled, but 
not the ebb and flow of the stream that flows from the 
heart. 

“ You are talking in riddles, Herr von Oliveira,” she 
said smilingly, shaking her finger at him. “You excite 
our feminine curiosity, just for the sake of saying myste- 
riously, and with a shrug of your shoulders, ‘ I cannot 
tell you I’ ” 

“ You are wrong, most gracious Countess. I could 
begin at once upon the spot, but you yourself would be 
the last to forgive me if I should interrupt the programme 
for this evening with my story, without express permis- 
sion from his Highness, the Prince.” 

“ Ah, your Highness, it is an interesting Brazilian 
tale.” 

The younger ladies unanimously turned beseechingly 
to his Serene Highness. 

“ Why, I thought, mesdemoiselles, that your little feet 
were longing for the dance,” be answered playfully. 
“ But we will gladly insert Herr von Oliveira’s story in 
the programme of our entertainment, — we can strike out 
one of the quartettes that was to have been sung in the 
forest.” 


30 


850 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


CHAPTER XXYIL 

What a strange turn of affairs I The Portuguese oiit^ 
law Lad come to be the hero of the evening I The ground 
beneath his feet was, indeed, unstable as the deck of a 
rolling vessel ; and the wasps that he had disturbed only 
buzzed something less angrily around his head. No one 
knew this better than the beautiful maid of honour. She 
gave him one long significant look ; her dark eyes seemed 
to say, — “ Do not deceive yourself” 

Gisela, who had hitherto stood in silence beside the 
Prince, not daring to raise her eyes to the Portu- 
guese, caught this look. It went like a dagger to her 
heart. She would not allow herself to show any emotion, 
but the blood rushed to her temples. Just as in her 
childhood when she gave vent to her childish dislike, 
her hand was involuntarily raised to thrust away the 
young girl standing there, while indignant words were 
ready to burst from her lips. What folly ! What right 
had she to separate those two people ? Did he not at 
that very moment reply to the charming gypsy’s gaze 
by so expressive a look that the lovely face blushed up to 
its thick brown curls ? The two evidently understood 
one another I 

And how could she presume to compare herself with 
that girl. No evil report tainted the name of the maid 
of honour, — she was very beautiful, accounted very 
talented, and fulfilled all the requirements of the formal 
life around her with exquisite grace. Was it not dis- 
graceful for her with her pale face, her ignorance and 
awkward manner, to be envious, vilely envious of that 
lovely, admired rose ? 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


351 


Her iunocent heart, that had never before known what 
love is, thus defined to itself the novel sensation of 
jealousy. — _ 

She turned her eyes away from the gaudy red cap, 
with its dangling pearl ornaments waving to and fro so 
gracefully, and looked beyond the sea of light down the 
dai k path leading to Greinsfeld. A profound longing for 
the gloomy silence of the forest possessed her. Away, 
away from all these semblances of humanity, — let dark- 
ness receive and conceal the unspoken pangs that were 
torturing heart and brain ! — away from this great world, 
as it was called, which she had entered for a moment only 
to be stunned and wounded as by sudden strokes of light- 
ning! She would a thousand times rather wander in the 
night, at peril of her life, among the frightful abysses of 
the quarry, than stand in the pillory here, listening to 
that shrill, joyous music, and looking into these smiling 
faces, while her eyes were aching with tears, — tears that 
she could hardly restrain ! 

With what enthusiasm had she resolved to love her 
kind, but how difficult it was to carry out this resolution ! 
Could she love these shallow, specious creatures, who, 
with falsehood in their hearts and upon their lips, could 
not possibly appreciate her aspirations ? 

It was dark and lonely as the grave by the quarry ; the 
small birds even would not see her as she fled past them 
to her home, for they were all sleeping in their nests or 
in the rocky clefts. Below, the poor dead flowers were 
lying, flung there by his merciless hand, and upon 
the edge of the path the nettles, past which her skirts 
would brush, were quivering in the wind ; it would be 
the only moving sign of life in the solitude. Her feet 
would again pass the spot where she had suffered such 
humiliation. The road was frightful, but it led back to 


352 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


her home, where she could close the doors and hide her- 
self forever from the eyes and tongues of mankind. 

.A way I Away I 

But she could not cross the open meadow, she must 
skirt it in the obscurity of the forest to reach the Greins- 
feld path that lay opposite. Slowly and timidly she 
turned round to search for a place in the thicket where 
she could disappear unobserved. 

Suddenly a countenance, a countenance with rude, hard 
features, confronted her. It was the stern old man from 
the forest-house. He was carrying a small chest, which 
he deposited upon the nearest bench. His gloomy gaze 
passed by the young Countess and was fixed earnestly 
upon the Portuguese, before whom stood the servant, who 
had performed the part of messenger, announcing the old 
soldier’s presence. 

“ Ah, the diamonds !” resounded from all sides. 

A large group was instantly gathered around the old 
man and his costly burden. Gisela’s flight was for the 
moment made impossible. The Prince stood beside her, 
and the Countess Schliersen took her hand caressingly, 
and drew her towards her. 

Oliveira opened the chest. Its contents were indeed 
fitted to dazzle feminine eyes, and the unspoken thought 
that the Portuguese meant to display his wealth became 
a certainty. But any one who could have looked into his 
face must have instantly confessed that nothing could be 
farther from this man’s soul at this moment than vanity, 
— there was such settled gravity, such stern determin- 
ation upon the frowning brow. 

He hastily took out one black velvet cushion after an- 
other, all covered with jewels, and carelessly laid them 
aside. Beside him stood the Baroness Fleury bending 
forward with parted lips. Gradually an expression of 


COUNTESS GISELa, 


353 


triumph began to sparkle in her eyes. She saw all kinds 
of glittering trinkets, that made her insatiate heart beat, 
taken from the chest, but they were all antique ornaments 
gathered together by the ‘ collector,’ — not cne bore the 
faintest resemblance to her ‘ most exquisite designs.’ 
Had the Portuguese been at fault then ? 

But now, more slowly than hitherto, he took out a 
ai’ge case, and almost with hesitation raised the lid. 

An exclamation of surprise burst from the eager circle, 
and her beautiful Excellency started back in amazement. 

There lay the wreath of fuchsias upon the velvet 
cushion, every leaf amid her dark curls copied with the 
most faithful accuracy, but it was superior in one respect: 
*ihe famous Ydldern diamonds’ paled beside these 
dazzling jewels. 

And the wreath was not alone, — it was encircled by 
the same necklace that sparkled upon Titania’s white 
bosom, now heaving so tumultuously ; and the agraffe 
which confined the silvery veil upon her shoulders was 
here also, with its large, bluish brilliants. 

“What a shameful cheat!” the beautiful woman ex- 
claimed, trembling with anger. “ Only see, Fleury,” she 
turned to her husband, — he was no longer at her side, — 
his Excellency was drinking a glass of wine at a distant 
refreshment table. The man was growing old and dull ; 
nothing aroused his interest as in former times ; it actually 
seemed to have become disagreeable to him to see his 
beautiful wife adorned with diamonds. She was alone 
amid all these malicious glances ; the fury of passion, to 
which hitherto only his Excellency and the walls of her 
boudoir had been witness, was on the point of bursting 
forth in the midst of the court circle. 

“ Fleury! Fleury!” she cried in great vexation, “pray 
come here and be convinced at last that I was right to 
X 30* 


354 


COUNTESS GISELA, 


protest against all that superfluous cleaning and putting 
in order in Paris. You insisted upon it, d tout prix, and 
those cheats of Frenchmen have taken occasion to steal 
these exquisite designs. Oh ! I wish I had not permitted 
them to leave my hands !’’ 

Every one of these sharply emphasized words was 
meant to insult the possessor of the diamonds. . . . Could he 
be actually blind to the insolent air and manner of the en- 
raged lady ? Not a muscle of his countenance moved ; and 
in reply to the Prince’s inquiry as to where he had pro- 
cured the ornaments, he said laconically, “in Paris.” 

The Minister slowly approached. What a contrast 
there was between his pallid, rigid face, and the features 
of the lovely Titania I Only a very observant eye could 
have detected the slight nervous twitching of the droop- 
ing eyelids. 

“ I can do nothing for you, my dear child ; the mischief 
is done, and you must endure it,” he said, with all his 
cold, smiling composure, and diplomatic indifference. He 
never even glanced at the case that the Countess Schlier- 
sen had in her hands, while the Prince was admiring 
the brilliancy of the jewels. “ And, indeed,” he continued, 
with a slight shrug of his shoulders, “you have nothing 
to fear from these rivals ; Herr von Oliveira keeps them, 
as it seems, for a curiosity, and as he cannot wear them 
himself, they can scarcely cross your path again.” 

She turned her back upon him angrily. She knew him 
well enough to see that, in spite of his admirable mask, 
he was terribly annoyed. Why did he not give way to 
his just indignation, instead of treating the whole thing 
as childish nonsense ? 

At his Excellency’s last words, the young ladies pres- 
ent all looked towards the Portuguese, who stood like a 
brazen statue, with his eyes fixed full upon the counte- 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


355 


nance of the speaker. What authorized the Minister to 
declare that since he could not wear the jewels himself 
they must always be imprisoned in their casket? Was 
it not natural to suppose that in the future there might 
be by his side some favoured young creature, upon whom, 
as his better self, he would lavish all these wondrous 
treasures ? 

Perhaps these thoughts suggested themselves to the 
Countess Schliersen. She took the wreath from its 
cushion with a smile, and before Gisela was aware of her 
intention she felt the cold, heavy stones upon her fore- 
head. She never dreamed that on the instant the palm 
of perfect beauty and grace was accorded to her silently 
by all, — she never saw how, for one second, an ungovern- 
able outbreak of passionate tenderness transfigured Oli- 
veira’s dark features. She only saw the beautiful maid 
of honour, who, standing at a little distance, shook her 
brown curls in annoyance, while the greatest vexa- 
tion sparkled in her eyes and pouted in her pretty 
lips, and who had a right, so Gisela thought, although 
it was not yet openly acknowledged, to everything be- 
longing to that man, and yet must silently endure to 
see another brow crowned by this diadem ! Gisela 
hastily removed the cold stones from her forehead, and 
replaced them, with trembling hands, upon their cushion. 
There was the most decided protest in her face and 
manner. 

“ Heavens I dear child I” cried the Countess Schliersen 
with anxiety, seizing her hand. 

“ Now you see the healthy vigour that you spoke of, 
Leontine ” cried the Baroness Fleury triumphantly, for- 
getting ner own sorrows in her present satisfaction. 
“ Gisela hates jewels, and their mere touch suffices to 
bring on her nervousness in the highest degree.” 


356 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


The Countess Schliersen bit her lips, and handed the 
case to the Portuguese without a word. But the Prince, 
who apparently wished to have the diamond question 
entirely settled, evinced a lively interest in the antique 
ornaments. They were passed from hand to hand, while 
Oliveira briefly narrated how he had procured them and 
whence they came, and then they were put back into the 
chest. 

“ Lovely Queen of the fairies, you have attained your 
fervent desire,” his Serene Highness said to the Baroness 
Fleury, while Oliveira was closing the chest. His tone 
was half jesting and half serious. “ Let us hope that its 
fulfilment may have no ill effects upon the spirits, most 
gracious lady. And now let us address ourselves to the 
refreshment tables,” — and he turned to his guests ; 

after which Herr von Oliveira will relate to us his in- 
teresting Brazilian story, provided that those mischievous 
looking clouds do not first extinguish our torches.” 

A storm was evidently brewing. The glassy surface 
of the lake, which had hitherto placidly reflected the 
light, was now broken by myriads of sparkling ripples ; 
there was a faint, low whisper through the tree-tops, and 
the flames from the torches, which had burned perfectly 
straight and steadily, flickered restlessly. 

But all these threatening indications were forgotten in 
the popping of champagne corks, the clinking of glasses, 
and the enthusiastic toasts that resounded to the noble 
giver of the entertainment. 

Gisela had declined following the Prince. She w^as 
hoping that a favourable movement for escape would ar- 
rive, — but in vain I Frau von Herbeck never stirred from 
her side. The stout little lady beamed with amiability, 
she was so happy ! His Excellency had just assured her 
in a whisper that his confidence in her was unbounded, 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


357 


and that he desired on the morrow before his departure 
to have a private interview with her, requesting her to 
consider it lier duty to keep an Argus eye upon her pupil 
during the remainder of the evening. 

She now conducted the young girl to a bench just 
upon the borders of the forest overlooking the entire 
scene of the festivity. The governess was seated upon 
one end of this bench beside an old friend whom she had 
not seen for years. A servant brought refreshments, to 
which both ladies applied themselves diligently, wh^Nt 
they freely discussed the unexampled insolence of the 
foreign intruder. He was an adventurer, a braggart of 
the worst kind, — who knew how those jewels had come 
into his possession ? And besides, the little stout lady 
was by no means certain that all of them were not false, 
— they had sparkled with most unnatural brilliancy, — a 
child could have seen that, — when compared with the 
famous Yoldern diamonds. But his Excellency under- 
stood perfectly how to deal with the swindler. He 
had not accorded either him or his jewel-show a single 
glance. 

Tired as a sick child, Gisela leaned her head upon the 
back of the bench. A burst of music from the forest opposite 
drowned the rest of this intellectual conversation. How 
wretched and forsaken this young, struggling soul felt I 
She had silently endured, a short time since, her step- 
mother’s spiteful remark,— she was weary of strife, nor did 
she care what the world thought of her. A few hours 
hence she would have vanished from the scene and would 
be forgotten, forgotten by all. She had tried to reason her- 
self into a dull resignation and indifference, — the attempt 
had been fruitless. The little scarlet cap, that appeared 
and vanished amid the crowd like a jeering kobold, ah 
tracted her sad eyes like a magnet, — the blood rushed to 


358 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


her heart and choked her breath whenever a tall, manly 
figure approached that charming head with its brown 
curls, but she was always wrong, — it was not he, — and 
yet each time she was tortured afresh. 

She would not look again, and she leaned back her 
head. A bough from the thicket behind projected above 
her, and laid its broad, cool leaves caressingly upon her 
fevered brow She closed her burning eyes, but opened 
them again with a start of affright. 

The Portuguese was standing behind her and uttered 
her name. She sat motionless as a statue, — it was his 
voice, but how changed I 

“Countess, do you hear me,” he repeated more dis- 
tinctly, while the loud chords of the music filled the air. 

She slowly inclined her head without turning her face 
towards him. 

He stepped close up to the bench and bent down 
towards the young girl. 

“ You are no more prudent than the rest. Countess,” 
he said in a low voice. “ You allow yourself to be bewil- 
dered by the music, and to forget that the approaching 
tempest is already whistling in the tree-tops.” He 
paused for an instant, — “ Will you really linger until the 
rain pours down?” he continued more earnestly as he 
listened in vain for an answer. 

“ I cannot go without at least telling Frau von Her- 
beck of my departure,” she replied. “ She would laugh 
at me for my fears, — you see yourself that no one be- 
lieves in the coming storm.” 

She only turned her head a little towards him; her 
eyes were still cast down. Almost without being con- 
scious of it, she avoided every gesture that could attract 
the attention of the governess, who was still eagerly con- 
versing ; instinctively she tried to prevent the suspicious 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


359 


eyes of the little stout lady from encountering the man 
who was speaking to her in tones of, such emotion. 

He stretched out his arm and pointed to the Prince, 
who was standing near one of the tables. Before his 
Serene Highness stood the Minister with a glass of wine 
in his hand. His Excellency was so wonderfully animated 
that there was not the slightest trace of the iron mask of 
the diplomatist in his bearing or in the smiling play of 
his features. Apparently he had just proposed a toast, full 
of wit and humour, intended only for the ears of his 
Highness and the few courtiers standing near, — the small, 
select circle laughed, and clinked their glasses with 
glances full of meaning. 

“You are right; they do not choose to believe in the 
storm suspended in the air,’’ said the Portuguese; “but 
the lightning will be fierce,” — he interrupted himself, and 
bent so low over the young lady that she almost felt his 
breath upon her cheek, — “ Countess, return to your quiet 
Greinsfeld I” he whispered in tones of gentle entreaty; “ I 
know that there is a lightning-stroke for you too in those 
black clouds up there I” 

It sounded mysteriously, — like a prophecy. What a 
contradiction this man was ! Whenever they met he re- 
minded her that there was enmity between them, and yet 
he had protected her through the dangers of the quarry, 
and now would have sheltered her beneath her own roof 
from the tempest ! Why should he thus care for her ? She 
caught a glimpse just then of the little scarlet cap, — ah, 
that beautiful head with the brown curls would not need 
so much time for flight, — the forest-house was so near, — 
he could shelter his treasure at the moment of danger in 
his own home I Her heart was filled with a bitterness 
It had never known before. 

“ 1 shall do as the rest are doing, and stay quietly 


360 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


here,” she replied gloomily, in a voice that was almost 
hard. “If the clouds really hold a lightning-stroke for 
me, I have the courage to await it.” 

She felt the back of the bench tremble beneath his 
hand. 

“ I thought I was speaking to the lady who yesterday 
walked so docilely by my side,” he said, after a moment’s 
silence. Gisela thought she could perceive vexation in 
his faltering tone. “ Once more I appeal to her, in spite 
of the decided repulse that I have just received. Countess, 
this is the last time that I shall stand beside you. Within 
an hour you will know that I am a cruel enemy.” 

“I know it already.” 

“ You do not know it, in spite of that bitter sentence. 
I have been a miserable actor; I have forgotten my part. 
And now the hand that should direct the dagger trembles. 
I can only say, once more, ‘ Flee, Countess, flee I’ ” 

She turned round and looked firmly, but with a heart- 
piercing gaze, into the face of the man from whom came 
this pitiless voice of warning. 

“No, I will not go I” she gasped, while something 
like a vague smile flitted across her quivering mouth. 
“ You say that you have not successfully played your 
part of scorn and contempt. Let me reassure you ; your 
contempt has been felt I I will not go 1 Strike on! I 
Iiav e learned in the last few days how to suffer. I know 
only too well what the heartache is 1 You yourself have 
accustomed me to dagger-thrusts, — you shall see me 
smile at them 1” 

“ Gisela !” 

The name came from his lips like a shriek. He took 
in both hands the hair that lay in golden waves upon her 
shoulders, and pressed it passionately to his lips. 

At this moment the forbidding dignity of the man’s 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


361 


bearing underwent a change ; the tempest that he had 
foretold seemed to sweep over him also. 

You have seen my weakness ; now learn it all,’^ he 
said, slowly raising his head, while the hair dropped from 
his hands. “ They say that the joys and pains of an 
entire life pass through the mind of a drowning man in 
bis last moments. For me a last, decisive moment is at 
hand. 1 may now reveal what is the bliss and torture of 
my life." 

Again he bent low above the girlish face that was 
turned upon him in breathless attention. It seemed as 
if the pulses stood still in such motionless tension of the 
whole nature. Oliveira gazed passionately into the young 
girl’s eyes. 

“And now look at me once more as you did yesterday 
when we stood on the brink of the quarry," he continued. 
“ One blissful moment for the unutterable torture of 
hours ! Countess, my southern life was one of excitement, 
full of dangerous adventure. I sought to stifle the 
pangs of my mind by strife with the elements and con- 
tests with savage beasts of the forest. For days and 
nights I have tracked tigers and bears to destroy them. 
I know the fierce desire to slay an enemy that is my 
superior in strength, but I never had courage to kill a 
deer. I was afraid of the soul in his dying eyes!" 

He paused. A happy smile played around his mouth ; 
those girlish eyes were gazing up at him, filled with the 
devoted tenderness that he had so longed to see there. 
A long-drawn sigh heaved his broad chest, the smile died 
away, he passed his hand across his brow as though to 
drive away some enchanting dream. Then he went on in 
a monotone, “ It is my destiny to bring to light hidden 
crime, to attack and annihilate a powerful enemy, a 
scourge of mankind, and fate points imperiously to a poor 

31 


362 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


roe with its innocent eyes, to a creature that is my first, 
my only and eternal love, and commands — ‘ You must 
wound it with your own hand, it must suffer through 
you!’ Gisela,” he whispered, close at her ear, in an 
outbreak of tenderness, “ I endured without a word that 
you should accuse me of anger on that day beside the 
fountain, but it was not anger; 1 could not bear that 
that child should clasp in his arms my sanctuary, the 
idolized form that I might never dare to touch. In the 
quarry I thrust away your little hands in an agony of 
self-renunciation, — when my whole soul was longing to 
press them but once to my heart ; — only a few moments 
ago I stood there, lost in gazing upon you, almost con- 
quered by the intoxicating desire to take you in my arms 
and shelter you in my lonely house. These are thoughts 
and wishes that border on madness; their audacity is 
cruelly punished. I know, only too surely, that within 
an hour you will turn from me as from a Vandal who has 
trampled your idols in the dust I” 

“ I will never turn from you, — never. If suffering 
comes to me through you, let it come ; and if the whole 
world should heap you with its scorn, I shall never accuse 
you, even by a look.” 

With a gentle smile, while tears sparkled in her beaming 
brown eyes, she put her little hand through the arm of the 
bench where she was sitting, and held it out to him. He 
did not see it, his face was buried in his hands. When 
he raised it again, it was so bloodless that it looked actu- 
ally ghostlike among the trees, but it wore its former ex- 
pression of stern determination. 

“I pray you. Countess, be harsh to me, — not this 
gracious gentleness. I cannot bear it. It makes what I 
am compelled at all hazards to perform seem actually 
devilish. I told you of the lightning-stroke that must 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


363 


come. I cannot turn it aside from jour head, but I 
would not have it strike you unprepared in that crowd. 
Return to Greinsfeld. Go, and, — forget one who has 
been doomed to cross jour path so terribly. And now, 
farewell, — for this world I” 

She sprang up. 

“ Do not go I” she cried. “ I cannot be harsh. I will 
die with you, if it must be so I” 

At these heart-breaking words he turned round and 
stretched out his arms with an almost frantic gesture, ^s 
if he would in reality take her in them, and bear her 
away to his lonely dwelling; but in an instant they 
dropped again at his sides, and his pale face vanished in 
the thicket. 

At the same moment the young lady felt herself 
suddenly seized from behind, and an arm encircled her 
slender waist like a vice. . . . Frau von Herbeck had 
been startled from her absorbing conversation with her 
friend, which had been growing louder and more interest- 
ing, by her pupil’s sudden and hasty gesture. 

“ For Heaven’s sake. Countess, do you see a ghost ? 
What is the matter ?” she cried, with every sign of con- 
sternation in her countenance. 

Her friend, too, hastened up, and took both Gisela’s 
hands between her own. 

“ Nothing, — leave me I” she gasped, extricating herself 
from their grasp. 

Frau von Herbeck cast an alarmed glance towards their 
Excellencies, and breathed more freely as she made sure 
that the extraordinary behaviour of the young Countess 
had not been noticed. Every one was occupied and 
amt^sed, — the champagne was delicious, and the illus- 
triou's giver of the feast was in the most rose-coloured 
humour. 


864 


COUNTESS GISELA 


CHAPTER XXYIIL 

Without paying any attention to the urgent request 
of the governess, who anxiously desired to know what 
had so terrified ‘ her darling,’ Gisela sat down again 
upon the bench. 

No, she would not go ! This much she had learned 
from his mysterious words, — that he was about to attack 
here a powerful enemy. Whatever his intentions might 
be, and whoever this enemy were, she would not leave the 
man whom she so loved alone at a moment when per- 
haps all these people would surround him with threats 
and hostility. She was forewarned, of the coming light- 
ning-stroke ; she would bear it without the quiver of an 
eyelash ; terrible as the revelations might be that he was 
about to make, there could be nothing worse than the tor- 
ture she was now enduring. ... He knew now how 
he was beloved ; his whispered confession had revealed 
to her a whole heaven of bliss, and yet he had torn him- 
self from her, driven forth by a stern power that de- 
manded their eternal separation. She must confront 
this power, — must know whether there were any force 
on earth which could divide two hearts knit together 
in the closest love. 

The music that had been sounding on in seeming end- 
lessness ceased with a few crashing chords. The re- 
freshment tables were deserted, and the Prince arose and 
crossed the meadow accompanied by his Minister. 

'‘Herr von Oliveira,” he said gaily to the Portuguese, 
who suddenly appeared near him from between two oaks. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


365 


“ you are punctual, but I must scold you for not doing 
justice tc our excellent champagne. I did not see you 
among my guests. . . .Are you ill?. . . You look pale, I 
might almost say agitated, if it were not absurd to im- 
pute nervousness to such a Hercules.” 

Just at this moment a blast of wind whistled among 
the oak boughs, and caused the flames of the torches to 
flare. 

“ Ah, this is really becoming serious,” cried his Serene 
Highness in a tone of vexation. “ I must beg you, my dear 
Baron, to allow me your rooms for the remainder of the 
entertainment, — the young people must not lose their 
dance.” 

The Minister called a servant, and sent him to the 
White Castle with the necessary orders. 

“ That hurly-burly in the air will spare us one more 
half hour,” said the Prince to the ladies who flocked 
around him. “ I am of opinion that Herr von Oliveira’s 
tale will be far more piquant amid the trees of the forest 
and beneath threatening storm-clouds than in a sheltered 
ball-room. You have the floor, Herr von Oliveira.” 

His Serene Highness sat down near Prince Heinrich’s 
Dust. With much bustle and noisy merriment chairs 
and benches were collected, — a large circle was formed 
around the Prince. For a few moments there was a 
hubbub of voices, a rustle of silk, and a rattling of chairs, 
and then it suddenly grew so still that the crackling of 
tlm torches was distinctly audible. 

The Portuguese stood leaning against the purple beech 
that overshadowed the bust of Prince Heinrich. The 
flickering light played upon his features, — they looked 
perfectly composed, although the pallor of ‘ agitation’ 
was still on his brown cheek. 

Gisela now arose ; she walked unobserved along the 
31 * 


366 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


edge of the wood and stood still by a table covered with 
glass, and upon which Oliveira’s jewel-chest was still 
standing. Although she had glided noiselessly along 
beneath the deep shade of the overarching boughs, the 
Portuguese had seen her ; he could not control his features 
perfectly. An imploring look of earnest entreaty met her 
own. She smiled at him and supported herself by one 
hand upon the table, — her sweet smile, her whole figure 
so proudly carried, was inspired by the thought, “ Let 
come what will ! I am strong and brave, and will for- 
ever cleave to you whom I love !” 

Oliveira turned his face from her, and then began in a 
loud clear voice: “The parrot’s former master was a 
German. He told me the strange story, which I will re- 
late to you in his own words : 

“ I was physician to Horn Enriquez, a man of eccentric 
character, who had retired to a lonely castle, where he 
cherished a violent hatred of all his relatives, because he 
fancied they did not understand him. Not far from this 
castle lived a certain Marquise, a miracle of beauty, an 
Aspasia in wit and grace. She perfectly understood Dom 
Enriquez’s eccentricities, and openly designated them 
as, what he in the depths of his soul believed them to 
be, ‘originality and genius,’ She had wonderful amber- 
coloured hair; smilingly and in secret she knotted to- 
gether those golden threads, and of them she wove a 
net that separated Dom Enriquez from the world far more 
effectively than did the solid walls of his castle. He 
could not live without the bright eyes of his beautiful 
friend ; and as she understood him so perfectly, he could 
not but repay her by laying all his estates and possessions 
at her feet He disinherited his family, who did not un- 
derstand him, and made the miracle of beauty, the witty 
Aspasia, his sole heiress.” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


SGT 

He paused, and suddenly turned his head aside to 
where the glass upon the table rattled. Gisela had now 
leaned both hands upon its surface, and was gazing across 
at him with an ashy face. As soon as his eyes met hers 
she stood upright, and forced her quivering lips to a feeble 
smile. 

‘‘ But there were plague spots in the beautiful Aspasia’s 
soul which she could not always entirely conceal,” the 
Portuguese continued, while his voice slightly trembled ; 
“ and Horn Enriquez, who, with all his peculiarities, pos- 
sessed a thoroughly noble, honourable character, was 
sometimes forced in the lapse of years to acknowledge to 
himself their existence with a shudder. And then fol- 
lowed differences, which often threatened to modify the 
will that had been made. The Marquise paid no heed to 
these threatening signs ; she trusted in the magic of her 
charms, and besides, she had several good friends about 
the person of Dom Enriquez.” 

The narrator’s glance rested quietly upon the eager 
faces of the listening group, and also upon the drooping 
eyelids of the man who sat beside the Prince. They were 
lifted for one moment, and a demoniac gleam like a flash 
of lightning darted across to the Portuguese, — then they 
drooped again, while not a muscle moved in the livid 
countenance. 

“ The Marquise once gave a brilliant entertainment in 
her castle,” Oliveira continued. “ Dom Enriquez was not 
present, and just before midnight it was whispered in the 
ear of the beautiful Aspasia, who was playing her part 
as hostess like a fairy in a splendid masquerade dress, 
that her absent friend lay dying. Half insane with anxious 
forebodings, she threw herself into her carriage, and 
drove alone, with her own hands, out into a night fearful 
with a raging tempest, that she might secure half a 
million.” 


368 


COUNTESS G IS EL A. 


“Was she alone, sir?’’ cried Gisela, interrupting the 
Portuguese, in half-smothered tones, as she extended her 
hand towards him. 

“ She was alone.” 

“Had she not a daughter who accompanied her ?” 

“ Her daughter remained in the ball-room,” a de^, 
harsh voice behind her suddenly said, half aloud ; and 
the old soldier advanced from the thicket, and in appa- 
rently harmless pursuance of his duty took up the jewel- 
chest to carry it away, while his eyes flashed with triumph. 

At the same moment Gisela felt her hand seized; icy 
fingers grasped it in a painful pressure, — the Minister 
stood beside her. 

“ What do you mean, my child, by interrupting this 
charming story ? Will you never lay aside the habits of 
the nursery ?” he said in a loud voice, in which, however, 
there was a terrible tone, — it was as if the man had concen- 
trated in those words all the arrogance and daring, all 
the dangerous qualities which had enabled him. to rule 
hitherto. He had heard the old soldier’s low, muttered 
declaration, and, although he did not resent it in words, 
he pointed imperiously in the direction of the forest- 
house, and the old man withdrew with a smile of scorn. 

The Minister kept firm hold of his stepdaughter’s hand, 
and compelled her to follow him. As he walked across 
the meadow with her he cast a smiling, significant glance 
around the throng of amazed listeners, as if to say: 
“ You see now what an impressionable, nervous creature 
she is I” 

“ The end, the end, Herr von Oliveira I” cried the 
Countess Schliersen, whilst his Excellency placed the 
pale young Countess between himself and his wife. “ I 
felt a drop of rain upon my hand just now. If we have 
to adjourn to the ball-room we shall never hear the very 
interesting close of your — storv.” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


369 


The usual expression of kindly good humour had grad- 
ually vanished from the Prince’s features. His small, 
gray eyes rested searchingly and suspiciously upon the 
man leaning there so calmly against the beech tree yet 
with so much determination in his attitude, as, with arms 
crossed upon his breast, his flashing glance returned the 
Prince’s scrutiny. His most serene Highness, like all 
weak characters doomed by fate to a lofty position, was 
disposed to distrust any firm, manly self-assertion as a 
lack of proper deference to himself, and such a lack be 
could not excuse. Besides, the man’s story had a strange 
similarity to a dark, old, half-forgotten tale that, for the 
Minister’s sake, he would not have revived before all this 
gossiping, inquisitive crowd, — still, without some direct 
explanation, he could not suppress the denouement of the 
story that had just been called for, therefore by a hasty, 
and not very gracious, wave of his hand, he signified to 
the Portuguese his permission to conclude the narrative. 

Oliveira left the beech tree, — his chest heaved with a 
deep-drawn sigh, a fresh blast of wind swept by and 
lifted the dark hair upon his stern brow. 

“ And now the man whose words I have repeated to 
you begins his self-accusation. He sinned deeply but he 
suffered much,” he continued in a louder tone of voice. 
“ ‘ On that night, when death came so suddenly and unex- 
pectedly to Horn Enriquez, no one stood beside his bed 

save the Yisconde , a handsome, proud, courageous 

man, and myself,’ thus the German physician continues. 
‘ The dying man made use of the moments of life that re- 
mained to him, to set aside his will. He dictated a new 
one to us. We each wrote down what he dictated that 
there might be no blunder, — his hoarse whisper, fre- 
quently interrupted by his difficult breathing, it was 
hard to understand. He declared the head of his family 
Y 


370 


COUNTESS CIS EL A. 


his sole heir, he bequeathed to the Marquise not a rood 
of his estate, not a farthing of his property. The dying 
man signed the copy made by the Yisconde, as it was 
the clearest and most complete, and we also signed it 
as witnesses. Then he lay back content to die, when 
the door of the antechamber was thrown violently open, 
and a rustle of silken garments was heard, — we knew 
that footstep only too well I The Yisconde hurried out 
to guard the door, and I hastily concealed in my breast- 
pocket the will that had been signed. . . . The beau- 
tiful Aspasia outside, sank down before the Yisconde, 
and clasped his knees with her white arms. Her yellow 
hair, all dishevelled by the tempest, trailed upon the 
ground ; a thin crimson stream trickled down the side of 
her face, and curled around upon her white neck like a 
little snake. Her forehead had been grazed by a stone 
from some falling masoniy outside, — it was bleeding. At 
sight of the suppliant’s touching helplessness the Yisconde 
forgot duty and honour, — the door flew open, and the Mar- 
quise threw herself down by the death-bed. Horn Enri- 
quez cursed her with his latest breath, and died in the firm 
conviction that he had atoned for his former injustice, but 
the beautiful Aspasia, her face deadly pale with anxiety, 
conquered both him and us ; the glittering serpent first 
threw her soft, caressing spells around the principal wit- 
ness, the proud, chivalric man, — he succumbed to the 
demon, and suddenly stepping into the embrasure of a 
window, persistently turned his back upon the room and 
all that went on there, only staring steadily out into the 
stormy night ; and then she glided up to me and hissed 
into my ear, that her only child, the idol of my soul, 
should be mine if I would only permit her to read the 
document that was lying upon the table. I turned away 
my face ; she seized the copy of the will that I had 


COUNTESS CIS EL A. 


371 


made. In a low voice that trembled with rage, she reaa 
through the first paragraphs, that repudiated her in the 
most distinct manner. She never turned over the leaf, 
and of course, did not notice the absence of the signature. 
With a discordant laugh she suddenly crushed up the 
paper between her hands to a shapeless lump, and hurled 
it into the fire that was blazing on the hearth. Only 
when by virtue of the former will the Marquise had 
taken possession of the entire inheritance, did she con- 
descend to inform me, with a shrug of her shoulders and 
the smile of a fiend, that a few moments before that 
mad drive of hers to the dying couch of Dom Enriquez 
she had betrothed her daughter to a man who was, by 
birth, her equal. It was too late to betray her without 
thrusting my own head into the snare.’ ” 

A murmur ran through the assembly. The Portuguese 
stepped up to the Prince. 

“ The genuine, valid, last will and testament of Dom 
Enriquez was borne across the sea by the restless wan- 
derer, who breathed not a word in reply to the Mar- 
quise’s declaration,” he said in a solemn tone, putting his 
hand into his breast-pocket and drawing forth a paper. 

Shortly before his death he put it into my hands. Will 
your Highness please to observe that the seals are intact 

With a profound bow he handed the paper to the 
Prince. 

The eyes of all were fixed in breathless suspense upon 
the Prince’s countenance. No one observed that the 
Minister, at this turn of the narrative, had at first stag- 
gered backwards with cheeks as pale as ashes, and then 
in total disregard of all propriety, had looked over his 
master’s shoulder prying into into the paper which 
his Highness, in lingering confusion, was slowly opening. 

“Ha, ha! Herr von Oliyeira!” cried his Excellency 


372 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


with a hoarse laugh, — “ do you really venture so far in 
mystifying your eager listeners as to adduce a written 
attestation of your charming little tale 

Even this impertinence was not heeded. The select 
and courtly circle were too deeply interested in the rare 
spectacle of his most Serene Highness in a state of such 
great agitation. He held the open paper in his tremulous 
hands for one moment, as though he could not trust his 
eyes. His pale face grew red with amazement, he ran 
through the first page, and then turned the leaf and 
looked for the signature. 

But if the eager throng hoped to learn anything of the 
document from those lips, which now unclosed with a 
gasp, they were disappointed, — not in vain had his Serene 
Highness been for years the pupil of his diplomatic Min- 
ister, — his lips closed again ; he passed his hand over his 
eyes, then sat upright, as if awaking from a dream, folded 
the paper with feverish haste, and thrust it into his pocket. 

“ Charming, — very interesting, Herr von Oliveira,” he 
said with peculiar emphasis. “We will hear you farther 
at our leisure ! But, indeed,” he cried, springing up, “you 
are right, my dear Schliersen, it is beginning co rain I Let 
us hurry to shelter ourselves from the storm I Do you 
not hear it roaring and whistling above our heads, ladies? 
Quick I quick I Torches to the front 1” 

It looked as if a gypsy camp were breaking up in a 
hurry. There was a sudden bustle, ladies looking for 
shawls and scarfs, and gentlemen for their hats. No one, 
indeed, had as yet perceived any falling rain-drops except 
bis Highness and Countess Schliersen, but, nevertheless, 
all hastened to shun the danger threatening their gay 
toilettes. 

During the universal confusion Gisela attempted to 
get near tbe priqpe, whp stood for a moment in appar- 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


373 


ently easy chat with Countess Schliersen in the centre 
of the meadow. After his hasty perusal of the docu- 
ment his small gray eyes had glanced towards the face 
of the young Countess ; she could not disguise from 
herself, that the glance was suspicious and reproach- 
ful, — had she not betrayed her knowledge of the secret 
by her previous eager start and question? Her face 
burned feverishly, — she was in a state of the greatest 
agitation. If her beautiful stepmother had not herself 
been possessed by a vague but nevertheless absorbing 
presentiment of coming evil, she would not have failed lo 
take advantage before the world of her stepdaughter s 
evident nervous irritability, but, as it was, she gathered 
up her robes of gauze, and her eyes continually sought 
the Prince’s countenance, as if she could read there the 
contents of the paper hidden away in Bis breast-pocket. 

“ Gisela, you will have the kindness to return to the 
castle upon my arm,” said the Minister, in a voice hoarse 
and suppressed but none the less sharp and imperious. 
“ You look to me as if you were just on the verge of one 
of your mad freaks. Not a word, I entreat! We are to 
be made the victims, it would seem, of a deep-laid plot, 
but nothing is lost as yet , — I am at hand!” 

The girl’s brown eyes shot one glance of abhorrence 
upon the man of the brazen forehead, whose shameful 
lies to his stepdaughter had just been laid bare, and who 
dared to speak to her of the deep-laid plots of others. 
The crime had been betrayed to the Prince ; a wonderful 
chain of events was about to put him in possession of his 
lawful inheritance, and she was silently to permit the 
truth, which was as clear as the sunlight, to be suppressed 
by sly intrigue and incredible audacity ! Yes, she, in 
complicity with the man who had so horribly deceived 
her, was to preserve the wicked secret all her life long, 

32 


374 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


and appropriate the income of the Princess estates for 
who knew how many coming years. No throb of pity 
or of filial piety lingered now in her heart for the 
heartless, intriguing woman, who had scorned no means 
to enrich herself She regarded with shuddering horror 
the abyss that must eternally divide her from her grand- 
mother Her innocent consciousness could not, as yet, 
fathom her stepfather’s motive in making her cognizant 
of the wretched secret ; but it was clear to her that no 
noble desire to preserve the name of Ybldern stainless had 
actuated this man, whose soul was so utterly depraved, 
in concocting his evil plots. 

She answered not a syllable to the whispered words 
that would fain have taken a confidential tone, but she 
turned from him with the loathing that one experiences 
at sight of a venomous reptile. This contemptuous re- 
pulse, however, did not shield her from the threatened 
companionship. Without another word the Minister took 
her hand and laid it upon his arm, detaining it there so 
forcibly with his left hand that she could not extricate 
herself from his grasp without exciting general attention. 
And Frau von Herbeck also hastened towards her and 
crowded up close to her, as though she had undertaken a 
gendarme’s duty. The fat, little lady had not yet re- 
covered from her consternation at Gisela’s rude, unbe- 
coming thrusting of herself forward during the narrative 
of the Portuguese. She declared that she was still trem- 
bling in every limb, and assured his Excellency, in piteous 
tones, that she desired nothing more ardently than to 
return to quiet, peaceful Greinsfeld, where she could be 
safe from all the unavoidable scandal to which this day 
would certainly give rise. 


COUNTESS QISELA. 


375 


CHAPTER XXIX 

The party at length started. His Excellency followed 
with Gisela close behind the Prince, who had summoned 
the Portuguese to his side. Any one acquainted with 
his Highness’s face would have known that in spite 
of his extraordinary control of feature, in spite of the 
commonplace, almost frivolous conversation that he now 
sustained with Oliveira, he was in a state of violent ex- 
citement. In direct contrast to his usually quiet and dig- 
nified demeanour, he now proceeded hurriedly towards the 
White Castle, — an embarrassed silence reigned amid the 
train of guests that followed him; the stranger’s story 
had had the effect of some congealing element upon their 
previous gaiety. 

It was certainly high time to leave the forest-meadow. 
Fierce blasts of wind in swift succession swept across the 
lake, and tossed the ripples, shining redly in the torch- 
light, so high upon the damp shore that the satin-shod 
feet of the ladies recoiled in dismay. Where the illumi- 
nation threw its fiery glare upon the skies a black tu- 
multuous mass of clouds was revealed, with here and 
there pale white peaks and domes, big with hail. The 
throng crowded together, folding themselves closely in 
their cloaks and shawls, — one torch after another was 
extinguished by the fitful gusts of the coming storm, but 
in the distance the White Castle could be seen bathed in 
light like a cube of fire, — one more short battle with the 
tempest and its protecting shelter would be reache '. 
At the door of the vestibule the Minister turned round 
and looked out into the night. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


m 


** We shall have no storm here !” he cried into the hall, 

“ not a drop is falling ; the wind is driving it all to A . 

We might just as well have stayed in the forest. 1 wiK 
wager it will all be clear in ten minutes. Order the Count- 
ess Sturm’s carriage !” he called to one of the footmen. 

“ Will your Highness condescend to permit my daugh- 
ter to take her departure ?” he said, turning to the Prince, 
who was just about ascending the stairs. “ She does 
not dance, and it would relieve me greatly to know that 
she was safe in her quiet home after the pleasure and 
excitement of this evening.” 

“ You will not send the Countess out into this storm ?” 
cried the Prince, both surprised and embarrassed. He 
stood still upon the lowest stair, but did not look at 
Gisela, who was close beside him. 

“ I can assure your Highness that we shall have a star- 
lit sky above us before her carriage is ready,” rejoined the 
Minister, smiling. 

“No dread of the storm would detain me here,” said 
Gisela, quietly turning to the Prince. “ I should leave 
the White Castle immediately were I not forced to crave 
the favour of a private audience of your Highness this 
evening, if only for a few minutes.” 

“ What is the child thinking of?” cried the Minister, 
with a hoarse laugh. “ My little daughter’s important 
business, your Highness, probably concerns the interests 
of her dolls, or no, — her thoughts have taken a wider range 
within the last few days, — if I am not mistaken, it is some 
matter with regard to her poor people, — eh, my child ? 
But you have chosen a most unsuitable time for your re- 
quest, and if I were not such an indulgent papa your 
thoughtlessness would provoke me I Has the Countess 
no fitter covering for her head than this round hat, Frau 
von Herbeck ?” 


COUNTESS GISELA. 3^7 

Here, darling, take my burnous,” said her beautiful 
Excellency hastily approaching. 

She tore the white, glistening veil from her head and 
shoulders, and attempted to throw it around her step- 
daughter. 

“ I must repeat my request,” Gisela said, again turning 
to the Prince, and speaking in an impressive tone of en- 
treaty, whilst she put aside the veil. “ I should certainly 
not importune your Highness thus for the sake of a trifle.” 

The Prince glanced around at the circle of listening 
faces. 

“ Well, then,” he said hastily, “rernain. Countess, I will 
speak with you this evening, although not immediately. 
I must withdraw for a few moments.” 

“Your Highness,” — began the Minister in a stifled 
voice ; he was transported with rage. 

The Prince cut him short. “Enough, my dear Fleury, 
we must not irritate our charming little suppliant by con- 
tradiction ; and now for pleasure I” and he turned gra- 
ciously to his other guests. “Amuse yourselves as best 
you may until I again appear among you. Hark ! I hear 
the first notes from my orchestra. ” 

Apparently quite calm again, he ascended the stairs, 
accompanied by the Portuguese, and beckoned to the 
Minister to follow him. 

A flood of light streamed from the open doors of the 
saloons ; a stormy polonaise drowned the muttering of the 
distant thunder, and the forms that had just hurried in 
silence and dread through the murky night, were gliding 
over the polished floors, chattering with undiminished 
gaiety, their elegant costumes no whit disordered by 
their hurried retreat from the tempest. 

In the mean while Gisela went to the apartment adjoin- 
ing the castle chapel. That was, as it were, neutral 
32 * 


378 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


ground, a place to which no one laid claim. At her bid- 
ding, a servant, with a look of surprise, brought in a large 
astral lamp, which appeared like a mere spark of light in 
the spacious apartment, now so fearfully silent. 

The Baroness Fleury and Frau von Herbeck accom- 
panied the young Countess. Both exerted themselves to 
the utmost to discover why she wished to speak with the 
Prince. But she had grown ‘ obstinate as a stone,’ as the 
governess angrily remarked to herself, biting her lips ; and 
when, at last, her beautiful Excellency had satisfied her- 
self that nothing was to be learned from her, and that no 
entreaties or threats could induce her stubborn step- 
daughter to comply with the Minister’s desire and return 
to Greinsfeld, she left the room with a shrug of her 
shoulders. 

Frau von Herbeck sat crouched, in spite of the sultry 
atmosphere outside, shivering and sighing, in one of 
the spindle-legged arm-chairs. This sacred, beloved 
apartment, was really too ghastly at night. But the 
young Countess paced restlessly to and fro over the old, 
brown, creaking planks of the floor. 

Without, behind the uncurtained bow-windows, reigned 
profound darkness, only broken now and then by a livid 
flash of lightning from the tempest which, in fact, was now 
subsiding. Then the yellow glare played for an instant 
over the dim walls of the room, — the governess always 
closed her eyes in terror, — those colossal figures from the 
Bible history seemed to start into life, — they gazed 
sternly at the hypocritical woman, who, to serve her 
own evil aims, had boldly sought to strip the halo from 
their brows ; and who, to gratify her thirst for the power 
of which her narrow, unaided nature was utterly incapa- 
ble, made a scourge of Holy Writ, and with it assaulted 
every truth that condemned her, every attempt of h^iman 
thought to soar upwards. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


3t9 


And the fiery finger of the lightning revealed in the 
darkness one lovely Old Testament figure, — Jephtha’s 
beautiful daughter, the innocent victim of heathen super- 
stition. She floated there in her white robes like a flut- 
tering dove, and gazed with her melancholy eyes upon 
the restless figure, that, with feverish anxiety in every 
feature, continued to walk to and fro without intermission. 

Gisela stepped out into the dimly lighted corridor, and 
stood listening at its entrance. A staircase led thence 
to the upper story, to her step-parent’s apartments, where 
the Prince then was ; he would have to pass here upon his 
way back to the ball-room. 

His Serene Highness had ascended thither with his 
two companions that he might be remote from listen- 
ing ears and the disturbing bustle of the ball-room. He 
entered the room hung with violet plush, and closed the 
door leading into the long suite of apartments. In the 
milk-white lotus-blossom suspended from the ceiling of 
the adjoining sea-room, a dim light was burning, it shed a 
pale ray like moonlight over the green magic, around the 
white limbs of the water-gods, and the beautiful but evil 
nicture of the Countess Vdldern. 

As if breathless from his hasty ascent the Prince stood 
still in the middle of the room and quickly drew the docu- 
ment from this breast-pocket. Now he could be himself, 
he was in a state of the most intense emotion. He un- 
folded the sheet and read in a suppressed voice : “ Hein- 
rich, Prince at A , Hans von Zweiflingen, Major , 

M^olf von Eschebach ” 

“There is no doubt of it!” exclaimed the Prince. 
“Did Eschebach give you this will with his own hands, 
Herr von Oliveira ?” 

“ Let me first inform your Highness that I am a 
German.” said the Portuguese calmly. “ My name is 


380 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


Berthold Eckhardt. I am the second son of the former 
royal overseer, Eckhardt, of Neuenfeld.” 

“Aha I” the Minister laughed aloud, in savage exultor 
tion. “ I thought the whole matter would prove an im- 
posture Your Highness, we have here a demagogue of 
the most ultra description ; he fled the country about 
twelve years ago to avoid arrest P' 

The Prince recoiled with a stern frown upon his brow, 
and a gesture of displeasure. 

“What I have you dared to approach our presence 
under an assumed name he asked angrily. 

“ I am, in truth, Herr von Oliveira, possessor of an 
estate of that name in Brazil, where I am known by it 
as w^ell as by my family name,” replied the Portuguese, 
nothing daunted. “ Had I returned to Germany solely 
for purposes connected with my own interests, nothing 
in the world would have induced me to lay aside for one 
moment my dear and honoured German name. But 1 
had a mission to fulfil that required the greatest caution. 
It was necessary that I should have an audience of some 
duration with your Highness, and I knew that the laws 

of etiquette are so strict at the Court at A that this 

privilege wmuld never be accorded to a civilian.” 

“ And you yourself afford a striking proof at this mo- 
ment, my worthy Herr Eckhardt, of the necessity of pre- 
serving this Chinese wall around the person of our sove- 
reign I” the Minister interposed, with Satanic contempt. 
“You would, indeed, never have succeeded in mystifying 
his Serene Highness with this imposture,” — he pointed 
to the will in the Prince’s hand, — “if you had preserved 
your ‘ dear and honoured German name.’ If, your High- 
ness,” — he turned, with a shrug of his shoulders, to the 
Prince, — “there is one of your faithful subjects who has 
it most warmly at heart to increase the estates and re- 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


381 


venues of your family it is I, — let my whole life hitherto 
attest this ; but I should be blind, — I should commit the 
most palpable sin of omission, if I did not unhesita- 
tingly declare the bungling performance in your hands a 
fabrication ! Herr Eckhardt, — admirable democrat that 
you are, — I fathom only too perfectly the designs of 
your party and of yourself! You think, by means of 
this will, to strike a blow at the aristocracy who sur- 
round their sovereign’s throne with such constant 
fidelity; but have a care, — I am here, and give back 
the blow!” 

The dark crimson streaks flushed the brow of the For- 
tuguese, — his right hand was clenched and half raised, 
as though to descend most heavily ; but Berthold Eck- 
hardt was no longer the hot-blooded student who was 
not to be kept within the bounds of self-control except by 
his grave brother whom he so dearly loved. At this 
moment he was the very ideal of force of will and self- 
control, — his hand fell by his side and his flashing glance 
gravely measured the slender form of the Minister from 
head to foot. 

“ In the course of this interview his Highness will 
learn why I must decline all explanation with you per- 
sonally,'’’ he said, with composure. 

“ Insolent ” the Minister began. 

Baron Eleury, I must entreat you to compose your- 
self,” cried the Prince, extending his hand with a gesture 
of command. ‘‘ Let the man speak ; I will satisfy myself 
whether radicalism or hatred ” 

“ This matter has nothing to do with the so-called 
radicals in your Highness’s domains,” the Portuguese 
interposed ; “ but for the hatred which your Highness 
speaks of, I cannot and will not deny my profound, inex- 
tinguishable hatred of that man!” He pointed to the 


382 


COUNTESS OISELA. 


Minister, who again laughed contemptuously. “ Yes, 
yes, laugh !” continued the Portuguese. “ The sound of 
that scornful laughter went with me when I left my 
native land, — it rung in my ears wherever I turned my 
wandering footsteps, in the bustle of cities and in the pro- 
found silence of the desert ! I came back across the ocean 
breathing revenge, — the fiery southern sun and the reve- 
lations of a grossly betrayed man had fanned this smoul- 
dering fire within me to a flame. That document should 
bear witness against the man who, with a laugh of scorn, 
had robbed my poor brother of his dearest treasure, and, 
coveting Uriah’s wife, had heaped misfortune in fullest 
measure upon two innocent human beings. I repeat, I 
came hither solely for the sake of revenge I But its flame 
is extinguished in my breast. A being all truth and 
innocence has convinced me that it is unworthy and 
wicked. If I now persist in fulfilling my mission, — if 
I, in other words, hurl you from your height of absolute 
power, I do it only to annihilate the scourge of my 
unhappy country I” • 

The Prince stood paralyzed by such incredible temerity ; 
but the Minister, with the glance of a tiger, made a hasty 
movement towards the bell, as though he were in his own 
bureau, with his myrmidons within call. 

At sight of this gesture, a cold smile played about the 
lips of the Portuguese. He drew forth another paper, — 
a small, yellow, rumpled slip, — and it trembled visibly in 
the hand that was thus adducing proof after proof of 
the Minister’s guilt. 

“Your Highness,”— he turned to the Prince and spoke 
in a low tone, — “ on the night when Prince Heinrich lay 

dying, a man set out on horseback for A , that the 

Prince there might be brought to the bedside of his 
dying relative, who longed for a reconciliation with his 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


383 


family. . . Greinsfeld was indeed far out of his way 

nevertheless, the horseman turned aside from the high- 
road and rode to the castle, where there was, on that 
evening, a masked ball. Soon afterwards a domino ap- 
proached the Countess Yoldern and slipped into her 
hand this piece of paper. A short time subsequently it fell 
from the bosom of the Countess as she prostrated her- 
self by the bedside of the Prince. Herr von Eschebach 
picked it up and preserved it ” 

At this moment the Minister lost all self-control, and, 
throwing himself upon the Portuguese, tried to wrest 
the paper from him ; but his efforts availed nothing 
against the Herculean strength of the man, who, without 
even an effort, hurled aside the malignant aggressor, and 
handed the paper to the Prince. 

“ Prince Heinrich is dying,” his Serene Highness read, 
in a faltering voice, “ and wishes to be reconciled with 
his relatives. Hasten, or all is lost 1 — Fleur y.” 

‘‘ Scoundrel I” ejaculated the Prince, and threw down 
the paper at the Minister’s feet. 

But the man with the brazen brow did not yet give up 
all for lost, — he was master of himself yet once more 
He picked up the paper and read it, — although there 
was something of a stammer in his voice. 

“ Will your Highness actually condemn a faithful ser- 
vant upon such an accusation ?” he asked, striking the 
paper with the back of his left hand. “ I never wrote 
that paper I — it is counterfeit! — I swear it is counter- 
feit!” 

“ Counterfeit, like the Yoldern family diamonds which 
Madame, your wife, wears ?” the Portuguese asked 
. quietly. 

There was a sudden noise in the adjoining room, and 
Boon after a distant door was slammed violently. 


384 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


The Minister's own face was now his worst accuser, 
—it was hardly to be recognized, but he defended him- 
self with the despair of a drowning man. 

“ Is your Highness not yet convinced with what a 
traitor you have to deal ?” he faltered. “Are my private 
and family relations, which with such outrageous inso- 
lence he attempts to dishonour, to be discussed here ?” 

The Prince turned away ; it might well be excessively 
painful for him to contemplate the quivering features of 
his favourite and dictator of so many years, who now, 
utterly forsaken by all his wit, ingenuity, and unexam- 
pled assurance, thus snatched at straws. 

“Do not wander from the point, your Excellency,” 
said the Portuguese. “ I have no idea of alluding to 
any of your private or family relations, although I do 
not deny that they are perfectly familiar to me.” 

“ Ah, you are interested in the contents of my porte- 
monnaie and the items of my household expenditure?” 
The Minister attempted once more to speak with his 
usual sarcasm ; but his tone was only the more offen- 
sive. The Portuguese gave not the slightest attention 
to the sneer. 

“ In Herr von Eschebach you had a most implacable 
enemy,” he quietly continued. “ The treachery practiced 
drove him from his native land, — in spite of his wealth 
he was ever after a poor, unhappy, lonely man, and 
died upon foreign soil. The same act of foul treachery 
was bitterly avenged in the case of Von Zweiflingen, — 
his ruin was complete. You alone, who gave the signal 
for the disgracefnl crime, — who, as the ready accomplice 
of the Countess Ydldern, tied the first knots of the net 
into which the other two were lured, — you have firmly 
planted your feet upon your successful crime, and made 
it the starting-point whence you have step by step os* 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


385 


cended to honour, position, and an absolute power, 
which you have shamefully misused. The lonely man 
in South America, whose ardent love for the daughter 
of that evil woman ended only with his life, thought 
there was still a chance of happiness for him when 
Count Sturm died. Then Herr von Eschebach would 
have returned to his native country ; but again his Ex- 
cellency, the omnipotent Minister, interfered, and bore 
off the hand of the beautiful widow.” 

Aha I now we are coming to the root of the matter I” 
cried the Minister, with a hollow, discordant laugh. 
“ My unvarying good fortune has -provoked against me 
all manner of envy and secret malice.” 

Say rather, your Excellency, indignation that evil 
should triumph for so many years,” said the Portuguese, 
with stern emphasis and flashing eyes. “ From that time 
Herr von Eschebach pursued you as the huntsman pur- 
sues the game that he has started. Millions were at his 
command, — a thousand ways were open in which he 
could watch your most private transactions. He knew 
every incident of your life in Paris, and your connection 
with the gambling hells at the baths, and a few days be- 
fore his death his knowledge was all communicated to me. 
These are, it is true, your private concerns, and have no 
place here. But it is by no means your private affair 
that you have embezzled the property of your ward, — 
that you have sold, for eighty thousand thalers, jewels 
belonging to her, and have substituted in their place 
worthless imitations. Nor is it all your own private 
affair that this estate, which you call yours, is stolen, — 
you never bought the White Castle, — it was the price of 
your treachery to your Prince !” 

“ Demon !” shrieked the Minister, “ you would strip 
me to the skin I” He put both hands to his head. *‘And 
Z 33 


386 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


do I still live? May any low wretch assail me with 
impunity to my very face with such abominable slan- 
ders V' 

Refute these slanders, Baron Fleury said the 
Prince, with apparent composure. 

“ Does your Highness actually require that I shoul I 
condescend to reply to the calumnies of this adventurer? 
I do not dream of doing so, — I spurn them with my feet 
as I should a stone thrown into my path I” cried the Min- 
ister, in a hoarse but tolerably firm voice ; he was recov- 
ering his courage and assurance, — there had been some- 
thing like compassion in his Highness’s tone. “ Even 
supposing, your Highness, — only supposing, I say, — 
that I had here and there laid myself open to reproach, 
should not the many services that I have rendered your 
house obliterate the remembrance of any fault committed 
years ago ? Should it not weigh heavily in the balance 
in my favour that I have increased the splendour of the 
reigning dynasty as none of my predecessors have 
known how to do ? — that I have stood guard before it, 
and warded off the hailstorm of abuse hurled at the tra- 
ditions of your noble house by democratic demagogues ? 
—that I have never permitted the boasted spirit of the 
age to lay a finger upon the sacred rights of the sove- 
reign ? 1 have been your Highness’s most faithful and 

disinterested councillor in your relations with the coun- 
try as well as in all the affairs of your Highness’s private 
life ” 

“You are so no longer,” the Prince interrupted him, 
with stern emphasis. 

“Your Highness ” 

The Prince turned his back upon him, walked to the 
recess of a window, and drummed loudly with his fingers 
upon the pane. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


387 


Bring me counter-evidence, Baron Fleury I’’ he cried, 
without turning round. 

I shall not fail to do so, your Highness,” stammered 
the Minister, now fairly breaking down. With an uncer- 
tain hand he groped for the handle of the door and stag- 
gered out into the corridor. 


I 


CHAPTEB, XXX. 

At this moment Gisela appeared at the lower end of 
the passage. Anxiety lest the Prince should have re- 
turned to the ball-room by some other way, had at last 
driven her to ascend the stairs, — she had determined to 
await him in the corridor, for she justly thought that 
once more among his guests he would be inaccessible to 
her. 

At sight of his stepdaughter the Minister broke into 
a sardonic chuckle, — his self-possession seemed to return. 

“You are in the nick of time, precious child I Go in 
there, go in I” he cried, pointing with his thumb over his 
shoulder towards the room he had just left. “ My love, 
you have always hated me from the bottom of your 
heart with all the force of your stubborn soul, — I know 
it ; and now, when our paths are about to separate for- 
ever, let me have the satisfaction of letting you know 
that the hatred has been mutual. I detested the mis- 
erable, puny creature that the Countess Ybldern be- 
queathed to me; I never touched without reluctance 
the little diseased body which they called ‘my daughter.’ 
Now, then, we are quits I Go in there now, and say, ‘My 


388 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


dear papa would have locked me up in a convent because 
he coveted my inheritance.’ It will produce a splendid 
effect I tell you, — a splendid effect I” As if bereft of rea- 
son, he snapped his fingers in the air. “For the rest, 
your ingenious arguments against a convent life were 
entirely unnecessary, — we might have spared ourselves 
the trouble of that discussion, Countess Sturm, — another 
has brought about the denouement far more skilfully I 
Hal ha I I thought the last Vbldern face would look so 
bewitchingly in a nun’s veil. And you need not dis- 
tribute soup to the poor, either. You can ramble over 
the meadows at your ease, after your own idyllic 
fashion, and have quite a respectable portion of the 
heavens above your own domain; but, remember, only 
Greinsfeld heavens, — shake the dust of Arnsberg from 
your feet, as his Excellency, the Minister, will also do in 
a few moments.” 

He gazed before him into vacancy, as if the whole 
annihilating burden of the horrible future were visible 
to him for the first time, while Gisela, speechless with 
fright and disgust, recoiled from him and leaned against 
the nearest window-seat. 

“ Yes, yes, — all gone! all gone I” he exclaimed hoarsely. 

The Ydldern estate and its dependencies, — the game in 
the forest, — the fish in the lakes, — all once more the 
Prince’s I But you care nothing for that, — eh, little one ? 
you will be content if they leave you milk and brown 
bread. But she I she I There she lies, below there,— 
your beautiful, noble, sainted grandmother, with the cru- 
cifix that they put into her hands I Ha! ha I A crucifix 
for Helen, the enchantress, who flew straight when she 
died to the Blocksberg 1 Could she only awake and see 
that wretched scrap of paper 1 She would tear it with her 
teeth, and stamp it into the ground with her feet,— she 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


38 ^ 


would, as I do, leave for all of you, all of you, I say, 
ouly one thing, her curse 1” 

He rushed past the young girl, and down the stair- 
case, with a shrill burst of scornful laughter ; it echoed 
through the narrow walls of the corridor, and must have 
sounded fearfully in the room hung with violet plush. 
The door was opened, and the Prince looked out. 

The Minister had vanished down the staircase, but 
Gisela stood there like a statue, her hands hanging idly 
at her sides, her eyes, dilated with horror, fixed upon the 
spot where he had just been standing. 

The Prince stepped noiselessly up to her, and laid his 
hand gently upon her shoulder. There was a most mourn- 
ful gravity upon his thin face, — it seemed to have grown 
older by fifteen years within the last half hour. 

“Come in here. Countess Sturm,’’ he said kindly, 
although the tenderness with which he had been wont 
to address her had vanished from his look and tone. 

With faltering steps Gisela followed the Prince into the 
apartment. 

“ You wished to speak with me alone, did you not. Count- 
ess?” he asked, while he motioned to the Portuguese to 
withdraw to the next room. 

“ No ! no !” cried Gisela eagerly, stretching out her hands 
as though to detain him, as he moved towards the door. 
“ He too must hear how guilty I am, — he must witness 
my repentance I” 

The Portuguese stood still upon the threshold, and the 
young girl silently pressed her hand upon her heart, — 
she was evidently struggling for composure. 

“ I betrayed this evening my knowledge of my grand- 
mother’s crime,” she said in a smothered voice and with 
downcast eyes. “ With that knowledge I dared to look 
into your Highness’s face, and even found courage to 
33 * 


390 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


talk with you upon indifferent topics, when I should 
have found no words for you, except ‘ you have been 
cruelly deceived 1’ 1 know that the accomplice is as cul- 

pable as the thief; but, your Highness,” she cried, raising 
to him her eyes swimming in tears while she folded 
her hands imploringly, “ there is one excuse for me, I 
have been a forsaken, unloved orphan, who, with all her 
wealth, prized only one possession, her grandmother’s 
memory I” 

“ Poor child I I have not one word of blame for you,” 
said the Prince with emotion. “ But who could have the 
heart to burden your young soul with the guilty secret. 
As a child it was impossible ” 

“ I have known it but a few hours,” Gisela said, inter- 
rupting him. ‘'The Minister,” she could not bring 
herself to bestow again the name of father on the man 
whom she so detested, “ imparted it to me just before the 
beginning of the fete. I could not understand his motive 
for doing so, — now his reasons are clear to me; but your 
Highness must permit me to be silent upon this point. I 
thought it my duty to rescue the name of Vdldern from 
obloquy, and although I rejected the means for doing so 
offered to me by Baron Fleury, I nevertheless yielded in 
part to his suggestion ; I determined to spend my life in 
retirement, at Greinsfeld, to distribute the yearly income 
from the stolen estates among the poor of the country, and 
at my death to make the reigning family my heirs.” 

At these last words she blushed deeply; for the first 
time since her entrance into the apartment her glance 
encountered the gaze of the Portuguese, which had hith- 
erto rested immovably upon her. She suddenly recol- 
lected with shame and confusion that scarcely an hour 
before the thought of belonging to him had utterly driven 
all these fine intentions from her mind. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


391 


The Prince never noticed her blush. During the young 
girl’s disclosure he had been restlessly pacing the room 
with his hands crossed behind him. 

“Baron Fleury would have made you a nun, would he 
not, Countess ?” he asked, standing still. 

Gisela, in confusion, did not reply. 

“ What cruelty I” he muttered between his teeth, lay- 
ing his slender, hot hand upon the young girl’s bowed 
head. 

“ No, no, — you shall not be buried alive at Greinsfeld,’^ 
he said kindly. “ Poor, poor child 1 you have been in bad 
hands I And I, too, know now why you were so persist- 
ently called weak and ill. You have been surrounded 
on all sides by treachery ; they would have destroyed 
you mentally and physically ; now you shall learn what 
it is to be young and strong. You shall know what the 
world, — the gay world is I” 

He took her hand and led her to the door. 

“ Return to your Greinsfeld for to-day, — for your stay 

here cannot be 

Gisela stood still upon the threshold. 

“ Your Highness,” she said hastily, and with decision, 

“ I did not come here only to make a confession ” 

“ Well ?” 

“ Your Highness’s house has sustained a heavy loss by 
the fraud ; the income of many years has gone forever. I 
am the sole heiress of the Countess- Vdldern ; it is my 
sacred duty to atone, as far as I may, for the evil she has 

committed. Take all that she has bequeathed to me ” 

“ Oh, my dear little Countess,” the Prince interrupted 
her with a smile, “ do you seriously think that I would lay 
you under contribution, — allow you, poor, innocent child, 
to atone for your grandmother’s crime ? Do you hear 
this, sir ?” he said, turning to the Portuguese with a sat- 


S92 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


isfaction that he did not attempt to conceal. “ Your dis- 
closures wounded me deeply; you laid the axe at the 
root of the aristocracy, but these lovely girlish lips con- 
sole me, — they vindicate the nobility in my eyes.^’ 

“ The Countess’s idea is a natural one,” the Portu- 
guese calmly replied ; “ it occurred also to Herr von 
Eschebach. He made over to your Highness before his 
death the sum of four hundred thousand thalers, as com- 
pensation for the revenue of which your Highness has 
been deprived for so many years by the crime of which 
he was cognizant.” 

The Prince looked up in astonishment. 

“Ah I — was he indeed such a Croesus?” Again he 
paced to and fro for a moment, without another word. 

“ I do not know the story of your life, sir,” he said, 
confronting the Portuguese, “but from what you inti- 
mated to Baron Fleury, I gathered that you had expe- 
rienced a severe affliction. Your brother was drowned, 
and you left Germany in consequence ?” 

“Yes, your Highness.” , What anguish there was in 
his tone I 

“You met Herr von Eschebach by accident during 
your wanderings about the world?” 

“No, your Highness; he was a friend of my father’s; 
he wrote to him to ask that my brother or myself might 
go to him in Brazil. I left Germany in answer to that 
summons.” 

“Ah 1 then you are probably his adopted son, — his 
heir ?” 

“ He himself felt bound to repay me by his wealth for 
the love and care that I was able to bestow upon him. 
But, after the confession that he made to me upon his 
death-bed, I had a kind of horror of the old man’s wealth. 
I cannot yet forgive his silence, — while so much mischief 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


393 


was done in his native land by the man whom one 
word from his lips could have overthrown and ruined. 
He was a coward, — afraid of the obloquy that would fall 
upon himself. I divided his property among public be- 
nevolent institutions. Fortune has favoured my private 
enterprise; my wealth is the result of my own exer- 
tions!” 

“Do you intend to return to Brazil ?” The Prince put 
the question with a look full of meaning, as he approached 
the Portuguese. 

“No, your Highness; I desire to make myself useful 
in my own home. I cherish the blessed hope that, with 
the downfall of that wretch, a fresh life will breathe 
through the land ” 

His Serene Highness’s countenance underwent a strik- 
ing change. His head drooped, and he looked up with 
a keen, searching glance from beneath his brows, con- 
tracted in a frown, into the face of the powerful man 
before him. 

“Yes, he is a wretch, — a thoroughly corrupt man,” he 
said slowly, emphasizing every word. “But we must 
not forget, sir, that he was a distinguished statesman 1” 

“What, your Highness, this man who crushed with 
a grasp of iron even the most innocent attempts of the 
people to improve their condition, — the man who, during 
his long period of office, never moved a finger to relieve 
the misery in the country, — who, on the contrary, when- 
ever he could, placed every obstacle in the way of indi- 
vidual exertion in fear lest the people, if once their press- 
ing wants were supplied, might grow insolent enough to 
seek to pry into the political laboratory of their minis- 
ter! The man who, at last, grasped at hierarchical 
power in order to aid his government, because his mere 
worldly wisdom did not suffice to stem the current 


394 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


of the spirit of the age I He who had not a spark 
of religion in his soul, bound her to his sceptre, and, 
supported by a domineering class that have the privilege 
of public speech, he has converted the grace and gentle- 
ness that should be a source of light, consolation, and re- 
freshment to the human soul, into the Iron Maiden of 
the old torture chamber, who pitilessly crushes and stifles 
in her arms every one who approaches her! If your 
Highness will only traverse the land ” 

“ Hush, bush,” the Prince interposed, with a repellant 
wave of his hand, — his face had grown immovable and 
cold as ice. “ We do not live in the East, nor in those 
fabled times when grand viziers could wander abroad to 
hear incognito the people’s complaints. There is such 
a chaos at the present day of conflicting ideas, projects, 
and fancies, that our only safety is in adhering firmly 
and steadfastly to our original stand-point. I know your 
enthusiastic views ; they are stamped broadly upon your 
establishments at Neuenfeld. I do not blame you for 
them; but they never can be mine. You hate the no- 
bility; but I will defend and support it with my latest 
breath. I do not ignore the fact that it would produce 
much bad blood if to-day’s disclosures should become 
public, and for this reason they are doubly painful to 
me. Of course I must dismiss that unprincipled man ; 
but if any other motive could be ascribed for his dis- 
missal, — in a word, if the whole matter in all its evil 
aspect could be suppressed, I should be quite ready, ex- 
cept so far as Baron Fleury is concerned, to consider it 
all as never having occurred. I would far rather, my 
dear Countess, leave you in full possession of the estates 
in question.” 

“Your Highness!” cried Gisela, as if she could not 
believe her ears. “ Oh,” she added in a tone of deep 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


395 


sorrow, “that is too severe a ponishmeiit for my 
complicity in the fraud. I shall forever protest against 
such an act!’’ she exclaimed solemnly. 

“Well, well, my child, do not take it so tragically,” 
said the Prince in some embarrassment. “ It was not 
intended so seriously. But now go. I will come to 
Greinsfeld before long and consult with you. In future 
you shall reside at my court under the protection of the 
Princess.” 

Gisela started, and again the blood rushed to her 
cheeks. But she raised her eyes and looked steadily 
into the Prince’s face. 

“ Your Highness overwhelms me with kindness,” she 
said. “ I am doubly grateful for your favour, since the 
Vblderns certainly have not deserved it at your hands. 
But I cannot accept the honour of living at the court of 

A ; my path in life is already clearly marked out 

Defore me.” 

The Prince started back in amazement. “And may 
we not know ?” — he asked. 

The young Countess blushed once more, as she shook 
her head, and suddenly turned towards the door. 

His Serene Highness silently extended his hand to her 
in token of farewell. 

“We will not lose sight of you. Countess Sturm,” he 
said, after a short embarrassed pause. “And should you 
ever have a desire that it is in my power to fulfil, you 
will confide it to me, will you not?” 

Gisela courtesied profoundly, and crossed the threshold. 
The door closed behind her. The former youthful mistress 
of these rooms had looked upon the apartment with the 
r*urtains of violet plush and the treacherous evil sea- 
room for the last time. 

She hurried like some hunted thing through the cor 


396 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


ridor. Below, at the foot of the stairs, stood Frau vod 
Herbeck wringing her hands. 

“ In Heaven’s name, my dear Countess, where are you 
hiding?” she cried, in atone of intense agitation. “It 
is too thoughtless of you to leave me sitting all alone 
at night in that horrible old hall I” 

“I have been with his Highness,” replied Gisela 
briefly, as she hastily passed the fat little lady and re- 
turned to the apartment adjoining the chapel. There, 
by the huge oaken table upon which the lamp was burn- 
ing, she paused. She leaned her hand upon the table, 
and suddenly stood before her scolding governess in the 
attitude of a mistress about to communicate her desire to 
a subordinate. 

“Pray, Frau von Herbeck, order the carriage and 
drive back to Greinsfeld,” she said quietly, but in a tone 
of command. 

“Well, and you?” — asked the governess, bewildered. 

“ I shall not accompany you.” 

“What, you mean to remain in the White Castle? 
Without me ?” She intoned the last word of offended 
inquiry in a rising scale that seemed endless. 

“ I shall not stay at Arnsberg. Within the last few 
hours there have been such changes in this house that I 
can never stay here again.” 

“ Merciful Heaven I what has happened ?” cried the 
liUle woman, staggering backward. 

“ It is impossible for me to explain matters here, Frau 
von Herbeck. I cannot stay a moment longer. Drive 
back to Greinsfeld as soon as possible. The communi- 
cations that must still take place between us shall be 
made in writing.” 

Frau von Herbeck put both hands to her lace-adorned 
bead. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


39t 


Heavens and Earth I Am I insane, or do mj ears de- 
ceive me she shrieked. 

“Yon hear quite correctly, — we must part.” 

“What, — you send me away? You? Oh, there are 
others who will have a word to say in this matter, — others 
who know how to value my services. Thank God, I am 
not yet given over to you to be dependent upon your 
caprice, — it will be long enough before you will have the 
power to dismiss me. I know that it is entirely beneath 
my dignity to waste a word about the affair. I shall go 
to head-quarters and demand satisfaction from his Excel- 
lency for your unbecoming conduct.” 

“ Baron Fleury has no longer any control over me. I 
am free, and may go wherever I choose,” said Gisela 
firmly. “ You will do well, Frau von Herbeck, not to 
rely upon his Excellency. I will not put it to your con- 
science to say why you have so obstinately thrust upon 
me an illness from which I recovered long ago. I will 
not ask you why you have taken every means to cut 
me off from all intercourse with the world. You were 
the intimate associate of an unprincipled physician, and 
with him a willing tool of my stepfather.” 

The governess sank, as if annihilated, into an arm- 
chair. 

“ All this I forgive you,” continued Gisela. “ But 
I cannot excuse you for bending all your energies to 
educate me to be a heartless machine. You have robbed 
me of my youth, of the pleasure of benefiting others, of' 
the noblest delights of existence, and compressed my heart 
in the iron breast-plate of pride of birth and convention- 
ality 1 How dared you carry the name of God and his 
words hourly upon your lips, while you crushed out all 
generous aspirations in the soul of one of his creatures en- 
trusted to your care, and prevented it so long from 

34 


398 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


fltriviag and labouring in accordance with his holy com 
mands?” 

She turned away and went towards the door. Once 
more she glanced around, as if in farewell to the dim walls 
that she had so loved, and then passed out into the cor- 
ridor. 

“Countess,” screamed Frau von Herbeck after her, 
“where are you going?” 

The young girl enforced silence by a gesture of com- 
mand, and descended the staircase. 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

The vestibule was light as day and perfectly empty. 
The servants were all busy in the ball-room, whence the 
music of the dance was loudly sounding. Gisela slipped 
unperceived into the open air. The pebbles beneath her 
feet sparkled in the stream of light that poured through 
the windows and cast the huge shadows of their arches 
upon the gravel sweep in front of the castle. 

Rapidly crossing the path the young Countess entered 
the nearest avenue, but instantly started back with a 
suppressed cry, — a dark figure stepped from behind the 
nearest tree. 

“ It is I, Countess,” said the voice of the Portuguese, 
in low, trembling tones. 

Gisela, who had fled towards the castle, instantly re- 
turned ; whilst the Portuguese left the shady avenue, and 
came out upon the light gravel sweep. 

The dazzling light of the chandeliers fell upon his bare 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


399 


head, revealing distinctly every feature of the handsome 
face ; the red flush was upon his brow, but his eyeb 
gleamed with joyous surprise and undisguised delight. 

“ I waited here to see you enter your carriage,’’ he 
said, — it sounded as though his voice were all but stifled 
by the tumultuous throbbing of his heart. 

“ The parsonage is not far ; there is no need of a car- 
liage to carry me thither, and it becomes a suppliant to 
go on foot,” the girl replied gently, almost humbly. “ I 
have broken with the sphere in which I was born and bred. 
I leave behind me everything, — ” she pointed towards 
the castle, — ‘‘ that was a few days ago identical with the 
name of Countess Sturm, — the stolen inheritance, pride 
of birth, and the privileges which a selfish class has 
appropriated to itself. Oh, sir, I have had a terrible 
glimpse of that sphere which is isolated from the rest of 
mankind by walls and barricades I To my childish ap- 
prehension those walls were erected to separate purity 
from dishonour, virtue from vice ; and now I see that vice 
is as much at home behind these walls as it can be among 
the outcasts of the earth. Only a few moments ago I 
learned that instead of punishing the nobly-born all the 
more severely when they are not noble, deceit is re- 
sorted to to hide the stains of dishonour from the judg- 
ment of the world. I flee to those who are really human 
beings. I shall seek an asylum in the parsonage.” 

“ May I conduct you thither ?” he asked in a low tone. 

She held out her hand to him without hesitation. 

“ Yes ; I will enter my new life at your side,” she said, 
with a beaming smile. 

There he stood precisely as by the abyss at the quarry. 
He did not take her hand, and the red flush mounted 
afresh to his brow. 

“ Countess, let me remind you of a dark moment in 


400 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


your childhood, — of the cruel treatment, in consequence 
of which you were ill and miserable, and deprived of 
every childish joy. Was it not there” — be pointed to a 
part of the gravel sweep that stood out clear and full in 
the light streaming from the vestibule — “ that the cruel, 
angry man mercilessly thrust from him the poor, weak, 
little child ?” 

Gisela’s pale cheeks grew still paler. 

“ Did I not tell you, sir, that the remembrance of all 
that was buried with ” 

“ With the unhappy man who was drowned that very 
night, — is not that what you would say. Countess ?” be 
asked, interrupting her. “ He was not drowned. His 
brother saved his life, and perished himself immediately 
afterwards in the flood.” He slowly raised his right 
hand. “ This is the hand that maltreated you. Countess 
Sturm. I am Berthold Eckhardt, the probable incendiary, 
the insolent democrat that said such horrible things to 
his Excellency.” 

He paused, and stood before her, breathless, his head 
bowed as if he awaited some sentence that should pros- 
trate him upon the earth. 

Ah, sir,” the young girl said with profound emotion, — 
her sweet voice had never seemed so full of consolation 
and feeling, — “ you yourself said to me only a short time 
ago, ‘ Who can tell that he was not suffering from a 
thousand woes V And just now the Prince charged you 
with hatred of the nobility. You must certainly have 
had sad and sufficient reason for thrusting from you at 
that moment any one, even the most innocent, of the hated 
class.” 

“ May I tell you the reason ?” he asked, with a deep sigh. 

She bowed her head in assent, and both again entered 
the dark avenue. And then, in a voice that trembled 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


401 


with pain, he told her the sad story of his drowned 
brother, and described the utter agony with which he 
had accompanied the betrayed man through the castle 
and along these paths. He pointed out to his breathless, 
silent listener, the high prominent rock upon the mount- 
ain’s side, where the noblest heart in the world had 
fought its last mortal fight, — the night was now clear 
and starry, — the bold outline of the bare white rock stood 
out in the darkness, and high above it gleamed the 
millions of silver spangles with which the veil of night 
is sprinkled. And he told her further how he fled, — his 
heart burning with a thirst for revenge, — how he laboured 
night and day, heaping treasure upon treasure, that he 
might erect a worthy monument to the memory of his 
idolized brother, — a monument that should consist in the 
purchase of the neglected foundry and the creation of the 
present colony of Neuenfeld. And whilst he spoke, now 
in passionate accents, and now in the half-suppressed 
tones of a grief that had been silently endured for years, 
the loud bursts of music from the ball-room came crash- 
ing through the air, — and upon the brightly-illuminated 
lawn the flying shadows of the dancers circled and flitted. 
But glimmering among the deep shade of the trees the 
fountains leaped and shone here and there with a magic 
gleam, as a ray from the brilliant ball-room sparkled upon 
the falling drops, — and when the blaring trumpet tones 
were silent for a moment, the waters murmured and 
whispered amid the sad story, as if they too remembered 
how the grave, melancholy man, upon whose brow death 
had set its seal, had passed by them for the last time. 

When at last the man ended the recital that moved 
him so deeply, two soft little hands took his own right 
hand that hung by his side, and timidly held it firmly 
clasped. 

A2 


34 * 


402 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


“ Countess, do you not detest that hand 
“ Oh, no ! how could I she faltered, in a broken 
voice. “ I would console and soothe you, by every 

argument which a human voice is capable 

He clasped her hands, and drew her out upon the 
lawn, — the light from the castle fell full upon her face 
and the tears shining in her brown eyes. 

“ Do you remember the words that you called after 
me to-day when I turned to leave you forever ?’^ he said 
in irrepressible agitation, pressing the trembling little 
hands to his breast. 

She was silent, and struggled gently to free her hands, — 
she would have hidden in them her face, now suffused 
with a burning blush. 

“ I will die with you, if it must be so !” he whispered in 
her ear. “ Were not those the words ? Gisela, that cry 
was for the Portuguese with the high-sounding name, — 
but he exists no longer, now that his mission is fulfilled,” 
— his voice lost its tone, for the girl had indeed freed her 
hands and shook her head emphatically, — “ before you 
stands the simple German with the honest name, which 

he will never again lay aside ” 

“ And I say to him,” she interposed in a firm voice, 
lifting to him eyes full of unspeakable affection, “ I will 
not die, Berthold Eckhardt, but I will live, live for you I” 
Still the man maintained his self-control. 

“Do you know what that means, Gisela? No, you 
cannot possibly understand it ; you have too little experi- 
ence of life and of the world! I will tell you. With 
those few words you give me the right to carry you to 
my lonely home, — my own for time and eternity, — and, 
— I will not conceal my weakness from you, — I should 
guard you rigidly in this loneliness, even from any 
strange glance that might fall upon you. I know how 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


m 

Belfish I should be ; I should require you to live for 
me alone ; 1 could not let a stranger hand touch one of 
these golden hairs ; I should watch every throb of your 
heart with a jealous eye, — and, in return for all that 
you must thus endure, you can have no other compen- 
sation than the consciousness that you have opened 
Paradise on this earth for one passionate heart, — for 
one who ” 

“ For the only one whom I love,’’ she interrupted him, 
with a happy smile. “ Did you not hear me declare to 
the Prince that my path in life lay clearly marked out 
before me ? My only path is by your side. Seclude me 
in your lonely home ; I covet only one happiness, — to 
console you, and atone to you by my love and devo- 
tion for your melancholy past. Oh, take me, — I am your 
own 1” 

He had already taken her. His right arm encircled 
her, while his trembling left hand pressed her head against 
his breast with passionate fervour, but gently as if caress- 
ing a frail, tender, little bird. 

“ Where thou goest I will go,” she whispered, whilst 
the warm, quivering lips that had once pressed her hand 
touched her pure, shining brow, “ even if it should be to 
those savage lands ” 

“ No, no,” he murmured. “How could I bear away 
my fair white flower, my delicate slender birch tree from 
the cool German forest ? Ah, Gisela, you are my own 
forever I” he cried in an irrepressible outburst of joy. 
“And your little feet shall no longer touch this soil 
whence I now snatch you I” 

He lifted her in his strong arms, pressed her to his 
wildly throbbing heart, and bore her swiftly along the 
avenue and through the castle gate that closed behind 
them with a clang. 


404 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


SooD afterward Gisela stood alone at the door of the 
parsonage, while the Portuguese waited, concealed in the 
darkness, watching until the young girl should obtain 
admittance. 

It was late at night, but there was a light still burning 
in the dwelling-room of the parsonage. Gisela knocked, 
and the door was opened almost on the instant. She 
waved her hand once more out towards the darkness, 
then entered the hall and confronted the pastor’s wife, 
who, with a lamp in her hand, stood as if paralyzed, 
gazing into the face of her late guest. 

“ Madame,” said the young Countess, in tones of gentle 
entreaty, “ you spoke upon the forest-meadow of the love 
which was the first precept of Christianity. I appeal 
now to this love, and earnestly pray you to grant me an 
asylum in your house.” 

The pastor’s wife quickly put down her lamp upon a 
low table in the hall, took both the young girl’s hands be- 
tween her own, and looked keenly into her eyes. 

“ It shall be yours, my dear Countess,” she said with 
decision. “ You shall have the place of an own child in 
my house and my heart. But what can have happened 
that ” 

Great wrong has been done, madanie,” Gisela inter- 
rupted her. “ Crimes long concealed have been brought 
to light. I now know that all through my young life my 
feet have been tottering upon the brink of an abyss of 
sin and treachery. I long to breathe a purer air, I long 
to lay aside here the evil that may cling to me from my 
former life. You have a large heart, full of true motherly 
affection, and a strong fearless soul. I know it ; I have 
loved you from the moment when you confronted the 
Minister so courageously. You will teach and guide me, 
and prepare me for a higher vocation in life. . . , 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


405 


Mast I tell you of all the terrible disclosures that have 
driven me forth from the White Castle never to set foot 
within its precincts again ?” 

No, no, my dear Countess, I do not want to hear them, 
— ’tis best to know as little as possible of the plots and 
wiles of those high in power, — the knowledge does but 
soil our consciousness. It is enough for me that you 
seek shelter in my house. My poor child, trouble must 
have come thick upon you to disturb your innocent soul 
thus I But now come,” she put her hand upon Gisela’s 
shoulder, while a ray of humour shot from her clear blue 
eyes. “ I have indeed a large motherly heart, it holds 
eight fair-haired darlings already, — be sure there is a 
warm corner in it for you. Open the door wide, girls !” 
she cried, looking with a beaming face where the door 
of the sitting-room stood ajar, and showed one or two in- 
quisitive fair heads peeping from it. “ Something like a 
visit from the Christ-child has befallen us to-night, — you 
have often longed for this at a distance, now here it is I” 

The door was thrown open, and three shy girls stood 
in confusion upon the threshold. The ‘ little savages’ had 
grown into tall, graceful blondes. 

“ This is my eldest,” said the pastor’s wife, not with- 
out maternal pride, pointing out the centre one of the 
three figures, a tall maiden, with grave, thoughtful eyes. 
“ She is her father’s little philosopher, — his assistant in 
his astronomical studies. She has studied well, — far bet- 
ter than these two romps, — and has a high vocation too, 
she is to be superintendent and teacher in the Neuenfeld 
Institute, eh, little one?” She stroked the smooth thick 
hair upon her daughter’s head, and the girl turned and 
kissed her mother’s hand. 

“And these are our two household sprites,” the pastor’s 
wife continued, presenting the two girls, who stood on 


406 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


either side of their sister like opening buds beside a 
blooming rose. “Their heads are full of fun and non- 
sense; they giggle and laugh all the day long, and, if I 
would let them, would spend their time in playing with 
their dolls.’' 

The girls laughed merrily, and their mother’s eyes 
shone with motherly pride. 

“ Will you be my sisters ?” asked Gisela, holding out 
her hand. 

A very modest ‘Yes’ issued from the lips of all; but 
the hand was warmly grasped. 

“And now, girls, quick! make ready the little room up- 
stairs,” said the pastor’s wife. 

The girls took a bunch of keys and hastily left the 
room. 

“ They are quite lawless to-night,” laughed the pastor’s 
wife. “ Look I there is a surprise for to-morrow, — it 
will be my husband’s fifty-second birthday, — that is why 
we have so transgressed all rule, and are not yet in bed.” 

Close by the window stood a table covered with a 
white cloth, and upon it lay a very valuable astronomi- 
cal work in several volumes surrounded by a number of 
embroidered and crocheted articles. 

“My girls earned these by sewing and embroidering,” 
said their mother, pointing to the volumes. “And our 
little good-for-nothing made these, — Koschen’s chubby 
fingers completed them to-day,” she said, with a light 
laugh, picking up and swinging to and fro a pair of 
large, coarse stockings. “They have cost her many a 
weary hour, but she is happy at last, and even in her 
prayers to-night there slipped in thanks that the ‘ lovely 
long’ stockings were finished.” 

She noiselessly opened a door and let the light of her 
lamp fall into the dark room. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


m 

‘‘There she lies, my youngest darling,” she whispered, 
and her strong voice trembled and melted to tenderness. 
“ What will the little thing say.to-morrow, when she sees 
her dear Countess in the parsonage she said to her- 
self, with a gentle smile. 

The child’s fair head lay in a sweet sleep upon the 
pillow, and her long braids fell over the side of her crib. 

A heavenly calm filled Gisela’s soul in this house. 
After the horror with which she had gazed into the abyss 
of depravity which had suddenly opened at her feet, so 
long wandering upon its brink, this household seemed to 
her like a temple resting upon pillars of solid virtue and 
inhabited by divine peace. 

And the strong, stately woman who stood beside her, 
a perfect picture of steadfast, fearless truth, strove with 
great tact to soothe the evident agitation of the fugitive, 
to divert her mind from the events that had driven her 
from her home by introducing her at once to all the 
innocent pleasures of her household. It never occurred 
to her to ask herself what the high-born might think 
of her encouragement of one of their number who had 
rebelled against them, or whether the protection thus 
afforded might not cost the protector dear. She never 
even wondered for what high vocation the young Count- 
ess wished to be prepared. She should know it all in 
time. She never asked a single question, she applied 
herself to soothe her young guest, and confirm the con- 
fidence the latter had shown towards her. 

What trust in God, what moral strength must have 
inspired this whole family I The time was close at 
hand when they were to be driven from their home, and 
vet the knowledge that this was the case had no power 
to disturb the innocent joys of their daily life. 

For the first time for twelve years Gisela was led by 


408 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


the pastor’s wife up those stairs which the haughty 
Jutta von Zweiflingen had descended for the last time 
upon that eventful Christmas-eve. The young Countess 
still had a dim remembrance of that evening; she recog- 
nized the wide landing which had then been so wet, and 
where her little feet in their delicate shoes had avoided 
the coarse sand. 

She was ushered into the cosy upper room with its 
two windows in which the ventilators whirred so merrily, 
— the little upper room which Frau von Herbeck had 
called a prison unworthy of the beautiful Jutta, and in 
which the proud Zweiflingen had first resigned herself 
to dreams of ambition and treachery. 

The gorgeous furniture, covered with apricot silk 
damask, no longer adorned the apartment, and the por- 
trait of the girl in the white satin dress now hung in his 

Excellency’s hotel at A ; with this portrait, and with 

the picture of the last beautiful, unhappy Zweiflingen, 
closed a long, proud line of ancestry. 

Instead, Luther’s strongly-marked features looked down 
from the neatly papered walls of the room ; and the 
few articles of furniture were clean and inviting. White 
covers were laid upon table and bureau, and the bed in 
the corner, — a genuine high Thuringian parsonage bed, — 
was a picture of dainty freshness. 

Gisela stepped to one of the windows and opened it as 
the pastor’s wife left the room for a moment. The warm 
night breeze was wafted in, rustling as it came among 
the leaves of the pear tree, whose branches tapped against 
the small window panes. 

Several trumpet notes were borne upon the air, — the 
dancing was still going on, — none knew of the guilty secret 
that was like a mine beneath their feet ; every moment 
bringing nearer the spark that would ignite and scatter 
all the splendour of the revel to the winds. 


COUNTESS QISELA. 


409 


Gisela leaned far out of the window and gazed at the 
dark outline standing clearly defined against the sparkling 
heavens : it was the forest ascendiug the mountain-side, 
and concealing within its depths the old gray forest-house 
in its garment of green. 

The stately man, upon whose heart she had lain her 
weary head, had whispered to her at parting that he 
should not enter his house again that night ; it was too 
narrow to contain his bliss. He would wander up and 
down before the forest-lodge, and the fountain should 
murmur to him of the fair-haired maiden in the blue 
robe, who had but a short time since stood beside it, as 
the unapproachable Countess Sturm, and dipped her white 
hands in its silver spray. There he would review all the 
agony of renunciation through which he had passed, that 
he might greet with doubled rapture the morning sun that 
heralded the hour when he might again clasp his happi- 
ness in his arms. 

The parson’s wife entered, bringing a glass of cooling 
drink. 

“No, no, we will not look over at the White Castle any 
more !” she said, in a gentle, chiding tone, as she closed 
the window. “My child must sleep now ; but first drink 
this good fresh raspberry juice, it will drive away bad 
dreams, and to-morrow all will be well again I” 

These simple words, which only a mother’s voice 
could have spoken so kindly, fell like balm upon the 
hot, throbbing heart of the young Countess. She threw 
herself impetuously upon the strong woman’s broad 
breast, flung her arms around her neck, and burst into 
tears. 

“ There, there, my darling !” said the pastor’s wife 
soothingly, “ But it can do you no harm, — cry, — your 
tears will wash away all your disturbing thoughts j 

35 


410 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


and then take courage,- — you have nothing to fear, — ^you 
are at the parsonage : and not a hair of your head shall 
be touched, even if ten Excellencies were to come here 
and threaten us.” 

The dear, good woman had a clear, intelligent mind 
and a keen, penetrating eye ; but she did not see at this 
moment that Gisela’s tears were the first blissful tears 
of a newly-betrothed maiden. 


CHAPTER XXXIL 

Whilst the young Countess Sturm was leaving the 
White Castle and its aristocratic soil forever, the Minister 
was pacing to and fro in his study. It seemed as if the 
man were beating his tortured brain for one clear, distinct 
idea. The hair that usually lay so smoothly above his 
brow was rough and tangled ; now and then, contrary 
to the habits of the finished diplomat, he ran his hand 
through the perfumed locks sprinkled with gray. 

At last he threw himself exhausted into a chair at his 
writing-table, and began to write. The fair young bride, 
with dovelike eyes and wild flowers in her hands, smiled 
on from the wall upon the man, upon whose pale forehead 
there gradually appeared drops of moisture ; whose teeth 
chattered as if from an ague-fit, and whose hand, wont 
to express an iron will in bold, firm strokes, now scrawled 
upon the paper uncertain hieroglyphics. 

After a few lines he pushed the paper away from him, 
put both hands to his head, and again paced to and fro 
in the wildest agitation. .He seemed to have a kind of 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


ill 


horror of a certain delicate table near the window, upon 
whose round top was a small mahogany case. The table 
had always stood in the same place, ever since Baron 
Fleury had called the White Castle his own and arranged 
the furniture according to his pleasure; and the ma- 
hogany case was his Excellency’s inseparable traveling- 
companion, always to be found at his private office at 

A , when he was there himself Now, while his feet 

evidently avoided the little piece of furniture, he contin- 
ually looked askance at it, as if some magnetic, serpent- 
like fascination were hid beneath the, lid of the case. 

And with each quarter of an hour, that the silver- 
tongued clock upon the mantel struck with unfailing 
regularity, his steps to and fro grew more hasty, until 
suddenly, as if by an irresistible impulse, he stopped 
breathless before the little table, and opened the case 
upon it with hurried, n certain hands. He cast not a 
single glance into its vt ‘Ct-lined interior ; his eyes wan- 
dered over the Turkish curuain, as though he were count- 
ing its orange arabesques, whilst he took from the case a 
small object, and slipped it into his breast-pocket. 

This gesture suddenly restored some appearance of de- 
cision to the man’s bearing, which had hitherto been so 
distraught. He strode towards the door. On the threshold 
be turned round once more, the night wind blew in a 
strong draught between the opened door and the opposite 
window, and stirred the flame of The lamp upon the 
writing-table, — it flared very near to the curtain. 

The Minister laughed a hoarse, evil laugh, — he gazed 
for a moment at the flame which flickered within a 
hair’s-breadth of the curtain ; involuntarily he extended 

his hand as though to bring it even nearer ^bah I — 

where "was the use ? The castle was insured for an 
enormous sum, and the dancers below would have an 


112 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


abundance of time to escape before the flames could at- 
tack the ceiling of the ball-room and loosen the chande- 
liers hanging there ! 

He softly closed the door and glided on tiptoe through 
several adjoining apartments. He stood still at the door 
of his wife’s boudoir and listened, — low moans issued 
from within. And now the utter despair which the list- 
ening man had hitherto suppressed and crushed down, 
asserted itself and wracked his frame. The woman weep- 
ing within there was his idol, the only being whom he 
had ever loved, — and who yet inspired him, old as he 
was, with undiminished, ardent passion. 

With a face distorted by agony almost beyond recog- 
nition, he noiselessly opened the door and stood still 
upon the threshold. 

There was the beautiful Titania upon a lounge. Her 
face was buried in the cushions, her wondrous coal-black 
hair fell loosely over her back and bosom, while her 
arms, bare to the shoulder, hung down, as if lifeless, over 
the satin- covered arm of the lounge ; her little feet alone 
had lost nothing of their wonted force, — they were 
crushing beneath them the diamond fuchsia wreath upon 
the floor. 

“ Jutta I” cried the Minister. 

At the heart-rending accent she started up as if stung 
by a tarantula. With a frantic gesture she shook her 
flowing hair from her face, — and stood up the image of 
an abandoned fury. 

“What do you want here ?” she shrieked. “ I do not 
know you I I have nothing to do with you I” She pointed 
in the direction of the apartment where she knew tno 
Prince was, and burst into horrid laughter. “ Yes 1 yes I 
the walls have ears, Sir Diplomat par excellence, and I 
enjoy the privilege of learning the great state-secret some 


COUNTESS CIS EL A. 


413 


hours earlier than the astounded public ! Hell can fur 
nish no sharper torture than I underwent behind that 
door I” The corners of her mouth were drawn down 
in an expression of annihilating scorn. “ It was indeed 
a surprise, jour Excellency, to learn how charmingly 
you had mystified the reigning family I And there lies 
the magnificence — ” she thrust the fuchsia wreath from 
her with her foot — “with which you were pleased to 
adorn ‘your idol.’ Ah, how the envious crowd will 
jeer and triumph when they learn that the diamond fairy 
in ridiculous unconsciousness has been decking herself 
with Rhine pebbles and Bohemian glass I” 

The half-frantic woman thrust her little hands among 
the masses of hair that hung over her temples. 

The Minister approached her with faltering steps, — she 
retreated and pushed him from her. 

“ Do not dare to touch me I” she cried menacingly. 
“You have no longer any right to me I Oh, who can 
give me back these^eleven lost years ! I have squandered 
my youth, my beauty, upon a thief, a counterfeiter, a beg- 
gar I” 

“ Jutta I” 

At this moment the man recovered his self-possession. 
With all the finished repose of the omnipotent Minister 
he stretched out his hand toward his wife to enforce 
silence. 

“ You are insane with passion,” he said sternly.^ “ At 
such times I have hitherto treated you like a spoiled child 
who must be allowed time to scream away its anger. 
But I have no time for this at present.” He folded his 
arms upon his breast with apparent composure. “ Well, 
you are right,” he continued, “ 1 have counterfeited and 
stolen. I am a beggar. If all present their claims 
upon me, we have not even a pillow upon which to lay 
35 * 


414 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


our heads. You have never heard a reproach, or one 
word of warning from me, but since you use this hour 
in reviling me, I must tell you for whom I have ruined 
myself. Jutta, reflect, and remember how each year 
since our marriage has increased the enormous demands 
you have made upon my purse, — at last even the Princess 
could not attempt to vie with your magnificence. I have 
always given you whatever you desired, — I have steeped 
you to the lips in gold. My miserable, blind affection 
for you has rendered me the easy tool of your boundless 
extravagance. It is too ridiculous, — too childish for you 
to bewail as lost the eleven years of our marriage. You 
have had an opportunity of draining the cup of this 
world’s enjoyments to the dregs, and that you have taken 
advantage of the opportunity, my balance-sheet will 
prove beyond a doubt.” 

Hitherto the Baroness had been standing with averted 
face in the embrasure of a window ; now she turned round, 
her beautiful but evil eyes sparkling with rage and re- 
venge. 

“Ah, how well you have learned the old cry, that all 
the world repeats over a bankrupt, — ‘The wife is to 
blame.^ ’Tis a pity, my friend, that I was so often pre- 
sent at certain seductive green tables in Baden-Baden, 
Homburg, and elsewhere, when luck was so terribly 
against you. At such times I comforted myself with 
the satisfactory reflection that you, too, were steeped to 
the lips in gold. Can you deny that you have always 
been a notorious gambler?” 

“ I do not dream of denying anything, or of even say- 
ing one word in my own defence. The man who is about 
to enter, like myself, a dark path ” 

“ Dark, dark enough I” she interrupted him, and stepped 
nearer to him. “There must be an end of all, ‘Excel- 


COUNTESS OrSELA. 


415 


lency,^” she hissed. Baron Fleury must descend from 
his lofty position to take the only one that is possible 
for him, — a croupier’s!” 

“ Jutta!” he gasped. He seized the white arms Avhich 
had been the delight of his eyes, and shook them angrily 

She extricated herself from his grasp, and fled towards 
a door, but her eyes were turned with intense aversion 
upon the hands which, for the first time, had touched 
her rudely. 

“ You shall never come near me again! I abhor you!” 
she cried. “ Your plans are well laid. By accusing me 
of a share in your crimes you would force me to endure 
with you their consequences ! But do not deceive your- 
self! I will never follow you into your shame, obscurity, 
and poverty ! I acknowledge no duties to you, — all such 
vanished at the moment when your dishonour was 
unmasked. If there is anything that can yield me a 
moment’s satisfaction at this terrible time, it is the con- 
sciousness that I have never belonged to you in spirit. I 
never loved you!” 

It was the last blow hurled at the man who had been 
thrust from the sunny heights of a most distinguished posi- 
tion into the deepest abyss of degradation, — there were 
no more to come, and not one that he had received had 
had power to affect him as he was affected by these 
words from those rosy lips. 

He staggered to the door to leave the room, but it 
seemed as if his feet refused to obey him ; he leaned against 
the wall and hid his face. 

“Have you never loved me, Jutta? Have all your 
asseverations and oaths been false?” he asked, after pro- 
found silence had reigned for a minute in the apartment. 

His wife shook her head with a kind of savage exulta- 
tion. 


4i6 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


He oiirsi into a bitter, scornfnl laugh. 

“ Oh, feminine logic I This woman takes her place in 
the judgment-seat of strict virtue. She thrusts the de 
ceiver pitilessly from her, and then confesses, with charm- 
ing naivete, that she has deceived and befooled her hus- 
band for eleven long years! Go, go! You, too, may 
have a future career. Some years of youth and beauty 
are still your own : and the end of this career, — ah, I will 
be more discreet than you are, and never even whisper to 
these walls how the career of her Excellency, the Baroness 
Eleiiry, will one day end !’’ 

He went out of the door ; but, before closing it, glanced 
back once more into the room. His wife had thrown her- 
self again upon the couch. She looked utterly crushed 
and forlorn, and yet she had never been more exquisitely 
beautiful than at this moment. His ardent passion for the 
beautiful woman outweighed all else in the mind of this 
dangerous man. He forgot what a miserable soul dwelt 
within her wondrous frame. He forgot that her avari- 
cious, insatiate heart, had never beaten for him. He 
suddenly returned into the room. 

“ Jutta, give me your hand, and look at me once more !^^ 
he said, in a broken voice. 

She folded her arms upon her breast, and buried her 
face in the cushions of the couch. 

“ Jutta, look up ; we are parting forever !” 

She never stirred. The rising and falling of her breast 
as she breathed were scarcely perceptible. 

He clenched his teeth in agony and left the room. As 
before, he glided noiselessly along the corridor, and then 
descended the stairs. Voices below him arrested his steps. 
He leaned over the balustrade, and saw upon the landing 
three gentlemen, the fortunate possessors of the cham- 
berlain^s keys The face of each wore a troubled look, 


COUNTESS GISELA. 41^ 

aud they were talking in a low tone, but the Minister 
heard every word distinctly. 

“Then, gentlemen,’’ said one of these honourable cava- 
liers, as he drew his tight-fitting, white glove upon his 
plump hand, and carefully buttoned it, “ I must now re- 
turn to the ball-room, and do the honours there in an 
entirely unconstrained manner, according to his Serene 
Highness’s command, — a terrible duty after this budget 
of bad news 1 In fact it is perfectly ridiculous that the 
Prince should insist upon hushing up the matter for this 
evening ; to-morrow it will be in everybody’s mouth. 
Heavens! what a noise it will make in the capital I We 
shall see I What did I always say, gentlemen ? Was, I 
right or not ? He was an out-and-out scoundrel ; and, 
much as I pity his Serene Highness, it can do him no 
harm to learn what a fine fellow has been set over the 
true, ancient nobility of the country.” 

The gentlemen nodded assent, and dispersed in dif- 
ferent directions. 

“ Oho I Herr von Bothe, you would have starved, with 
all your genuine, ancient nobility, had it not been for 
me!” the Minister muttered angrily between his teeth 
as he descended the stairs. “ Bah, we are quits I You 
were the most willing tool that ever stood ready to my 
hand I” 

He passed through a long lonely passage, and went 
out into the court-yard. Hostlers and grooms were 
hurrying to and fro ; they were taking horses from the 
stables and the Prince’s carriages from the carriage- 
house. 

“ I don’t believe one word about the courier,” one of 
the men was saying to another as the Minister glided 
past them. “ I am neither blind nor deq-f, and a courier 
cannot fly through the air.” 

m 


418 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


“ No, you are not blind nor deaf, but you sleep like a 

top. I tell you a courier arrived from A ; Herr von 

Bothe told me so himself. The Princess has sent for 
the Prince, — something has happened.” 

The Minister walked along the avenues of the castle 
garden, his hands crossed behind him. The music still 
crashed and thundered from the ball-room, and the light 
still flamed from the candles that had been lighted at the 
command of the man who was now wandering there a 
beggar and an outcast. 

The Prince’s carriage drove up before the vestibule. 
With as little noise and bustle as possible, the slender 
figure of the Prince, surrounded by the whispering gentle- 
men of his suite, appeared in the hall. 

At sight of him the degraded man in the dark shrub- 
bery clenched his fists and beat his breast savagely. 

The carriage rolled off, and there was a pause in the 
music. For one moment a deathlike silence reigned in 
the spacious garden, and then the royal vehicle rum- 
bled loudly across the bridge, and the signal distinction 
which the Prince had determined to confer upon his 
favourite, that envious tongues might be silenced, was at 
an end. 

Had the finished courtier not performed his difficult 
duty with his accustomed skill, or was the throng 
of dancers too keen-eyed to be misled by a court lie ? 
Carriage after carriage drove up, and gaily dressed 
figures entered and were borne rapidly away, as if they 
were actual fugitives. 

Again the orchestra burst forth ; its tones sounded 
ghost-like in the huge deserted ball-room, where the 
few dancers were still flying past the windows like the 
last bacchanals not yet satiated with pleasure at some 
wild revelry. 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


419 


On and on the Minister pursued his way through the 
letired shades of the castle garden, where art had counter- 
feited the wild caprice of nature, and where profound soli- 
tude reigned, — scarcely one scared, sleepy bird rustled 
among the boughs, — the night breeze hardly moved the 
high branches of the elms. But there was a sudden stir 
in the solitude, — gasping sighs escaped the lips of a man 
hurrying on in the wildest agitation, — he broke through 
the pathless shrubbery, and bent and twisted the boughs 
that snapped back in his face as he passed. 

Single dying chords of the music penetrated the thicket 
now and then, until they, too, were hushed, and as the 
last stroke of twelve upon the Neuenfeld church clock 
trembled on the air, the last carriage rattled across the 
bridge. 

The Minister’s eye rested for one moment upon the 
fiery cube of the castle, that glimmered, a fairy-like 
illumination through the whispering leaves. Then the 
chandeliers in the ball-room were darkened, and busy 
hands extinguished ‘ the myriads of candles that had 
lighted a fete so terribly interrupted. The long, gleaming 
lines that marked the corridors vanished, and left not a 
trace upon the night. One after another every light was 
put out ; one still hovered here and there, in the hands 
of some servant making his last nightly rounds ; it too 
was extinguished, and as it went out, there was a pistol- 
shot in the solitary shrubbery of the Arnsberg Castle 
garden 

“ There are poachers abroad,” the sleepers at Neuen- 
feld said, when the sound roused them for a moment from 
their slumbers, and then they turned again on their pil- 
lows, and slept the sleep of the righteous. 


420 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


It was the month of September. The first breath of 
autumn was mingling with the air of summer, and tip- 
ping the trees here and there with slight tints of crimson 
and gold. But deep in the hidden heart of the forest 
the glorious summer warmth still lurked secure; it lay 
upon the luxuriant grass of the opening in front of the 
forest-lodge, and sprinkled it afresh with flowers. And 
the leaves of the aristolochia still nestled broad and shin- 
ing against the gray old masonry, as if the time could 
never come when they would shrink and shrivel, and be 
whirled away from their cherished home on the breath 
of the winter’s tempest. 

But they were not the only decoration that the dear 
old lodge boasted to-day. Above the terrace, connecting 
one tower with another, waved wreaths of flowing green, 
and a thick garland of oak-leaves encircled the massive 
oaken door leading into the hall. Even the curled heads 
of the stone pages were crowned with ivy, and long, leafy 
vines were twined around the bugles, where the tira-lira 
had slept for so many years. Little Rdschen had de- 
vised this last decoration, saying ‘Let the poor men 
have some pleasure.’ 

The house itself was yet more festally adorned. On 
all sides, — from garlands and vases, and even scattered 
upon the marble pavement of the hall, gleamed gay 
flowers, asters and autumn roses, — and from the open 
door of the room in the southern tower streamed the more 
refined fragrance of the heliotrope. 

We have visited this apartment several times before. 
It has undergone another transformation now, — it is to 
be the dwelling-room of a young wife. White muslin 
curtains are hanging before the high windows, and take 
from the room its gloomy aspect. Light, graceful furni- 
ture, and well-filled flower-stands are all about, and a 


COUNTESS OrSELA. 


421 


Turkish carpet covers the floor. In the embrasure of one 
of the windows in front of an embroidered arm-chair, 
stands a work-table, and above it hangs a gilded cage, in 
which are fluttering brilliant little Brazilian birds. Two 
portraits in oil hang opposite each other on the walls, — 
one of a lovely young girl, with wild flowers in her lap 
and in her hands, whose happy, dovelike eyes look across 
the room to the other picture, — a young man, with fair, 
thick beard on lip and chin, and eyebrows that, meeting 
above the eyes, foretell a sad fate for their possessor. 
Fresh garlands are twined around each of the portraits, 
breathing a gentle breath of life over the youthful forms 
that have long been reposing in the earth. 

What a long story the murmuring fountain in front of 
the forest-lodge had to tell this evening ! . . . . The man 
of the knightly bearing who dwelt there had stood this 
afternoon by the side of the ‘fair, lovely girl, in the blue, 
floating robes, ^ and not in the respectful attitude which 
custom prescribes. No, — his strong arm had encircled 
her slender, shrinking form as the setting sun streamed 
golden through the windows of the Neuenfeld church 
upon his and the maiden’s head, and the pastor in fervent 
words pronounced a blessing upon their united hearts. 
They two walked back alone through the forest, and the 
man literally carried his young wife across the flower- 
strewn lawn into his home. 

Berthold Eckhardt had made the preparations for 
his marriage to Gisela with almost feverish haste. He 
acknowledged to the pastor’s wife that his brother’s terri- 
ble fate, and the evil wrought by the treachery of a woman, 
had made an ineffaceable impression upon himj and he 
could not rest until he knew his innocent love safe in the 
forest-lodge. No one ever mentioned, in his presence, 
the name of Baron Fleury’s widow, — she was never heard 
36 


422 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


of again. She retired to Paris with the insignificant 
pension accorded her by the Prince. Frau von Herbeck 
also vanished from the scene, and lived forgotten in a 
small country town upon her ‘reminiscences’ and a yearly 
allowance made her by Gisela. 

The marriage of the young Countess Sturm caused a 

great sensation at the Court of A . It deprived the 

Prince of several nights’ sleep to find that the Portuguese 
had again laid the axe at the root of the aristocracy, in 
publicly proving that a high-born Countess Sturm could 
become a simple Frau Eckhardt, and the world still pre- 
serve its equilibrium. 

The result of these sleepless nights was that a secret 
mission was entrusted to the lady with the sharp 
tongue and the keen penetrating eyes. The Countess 
Schliersen shortly paid a visit to the betrothed maiden 
at the parsonage, and with diplomatic delicacy remarked 
to Berthold Eckhardt, who was present, that his Serene 
Highness contemplated rewarding the first merchant 
in his land with a patent of nobility. ‘ The stubborn 
Portuguese’ gilded his answer with the same diplomatic 
delicacy; but the actual bitter meaning of it which could 
not be disguised was, that the man so honoured was 
not of those who oppose the aristocracy only as long 
as they do not belong to it ; that our times afforded ex- 
amples enough of renegades becoming the props and key- 
stones of worn-out institutions that they have hitherto 
derided and scorned — defending their conduct by saying, 

‘ For our children’s sake.’ He loved his name and did 
not wish to change it. 

The diplomatic lady returned foiled to A . But 

Gisela soon received a proof that the Prince’s displeasure 
did not extend to her. Among the names of the Neuen- 
feld petitioners, who prayed that their pastor might be 


COUNTESS GISELA. 


423 


retained in his office, stood ‘ Gisela, Countess Sturra.^ 
It was universally maintained that that name carried 
great weight with it. The Neuenfelders kept their pastor. 

A soft twilight is already falling upon the forest-house. 
‘The Portuguese’ steps out upon the terrace with his 
young wife. The bridal-veil still floats down from her 
head and the delicate myrtle wreath still encircles her 
fair brow. She is gazing into the handsome face of the 
man who is to seclude her here in the deep dim forest, — 
and how that face beams I He, whose dark past is so 
full of pain and struggles, has reached the goal of all 
his hopes. He holds his dearest treasure in his arms. In 
the turmoil of life he stands upon a kind of oasis. Beyond 
it lurks the Protestant papacy, scourging with rods every 
aspiring soul, while here in the colony that he has created, 
all free thoughts of God and His word may find utter- 
ance; beyond it, unbounded love of self bears sway, 
and one class seeks to rise, planting its foot upon the 
neck of another ; but here, love reigns and proves that 
mankind may rise to be what a derided philanthropy 
claims that it should be. The man in the forest-lodge 
sees happy, contented faces wherever he turns his eyes. 
The ridiculous struggle for office and honour does not in- 
trude here, — there is room here for the highest ambition 
of which the human soul is capable, — an ambition to rise 
to mental freedom, and the constant development of the 
best powers of our nature. 

“Gisela I” a harsh, unmelodious voice screams in the 
bride’s ear. She turns round in amazement; the parrot 
is swinging merrily in his ring, and old Sievert stands 
smiling upon the threshold of the hall-door. The young 
wife holds out to him both hands; he has taken the great- 
est pains to efface from the bird’s memory the last terri- 
ble words of the dying Herr von Eschebach, and to teach 


424 


COUNTESS GISELA 


it instead the name of its future mistress. He gently 
takes the delicate hands that are held out to him between 
his own large brown palms, and, to Gisela’s surprise, his 
stern old eyes shine moist through tears. 

And now the pastor’s wife comes out of the hall; she 
has thrown a shawl about her shoulders, and is about to 
take her departure. 

“ I have arranged the tea-table in there for you, little 
wife; one cannot live on love alone,” she says archly, 
pointing to the window of the southern tower that looks 
out upon the terrace. In the cosy twilight within, almost 
upon the same spot where the tea-table of the old blind 
woman once stood, the small blue flame is burning that 
gives the room such a comfortable air at the fall of 
evening. 

“And now God bless you, you dear, dear people I” says 
the pastor’s wife, and her sonorous voice melts to tender- 
ness. 

‘ The Portuguese’ kisses reverentially her hand, hard 
with labour, and Gisela throws her arms around her neck. 
Then she descends the steps, and her erect firm figure 
vanishes in the forest. 

Gradually a silver light floods forest, house, and mea- 
dow; the moon rises large and full. Again it beholds, 
standing upon the terrace, a tall manly form, at whose 
side nestles a young girl, but the oaths exchanged by 
those whispering lips are never broken I 


THE END. 


PUBLICATIONS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT CO, 


THE WORKS OF E. MARLITT. 

TRANSLATED BY MRS. A. L. WISTER. 

AT THE COUNCILLOR’S; 

Oie,, -A isr A. IvC Xi E S S XI I S T O 12 . ■y. 
Sixth Edition. i2mo. Fine cloth. $1.75. 


" Pure in tone, elegant in style, and 
overflowing with the tender And open- 
ly-expressed sentiment which charac- 

THE SECOND WIFE. 

Twelfth Edition. i2mo. Fine cloth. $1.75. 

'A German story of intense interest I romance of that country, 
by one of the best-known writers of j ington Chronicle. 

THE OLD MAM’SELLE’S SECRET. 

Eleventh Edition. i2mo. Fine cloth. $1.50. 


terizes human romance in Germany.'' 
— M''^orcester Spy. 


•—W’aih 


“ It is one of the most intense, con- 
centrated, compact novels of the day. 

. . And the work has the minute 
fldelity of the author of the ‘ Initials,' 


the dramatic unity of Reade, and the 
graphic power of George Eliot.” — 
Columbus, Ohio, Journal. 


GOLD ELSIE. 


Ninth Edition. i2mo. 
” ‘ Gold Elsie’ is one of the loveliest 
heroines ever introduced to the pub- 
lic.” — Boston Advertise''^. 

” A charming book. It absorbs your 


Fine cloth. $1.50. 
attention from the title-page to the 
end.” — The Chicago Home Circle. 

” A charming story charmingly 
told." — Baltimore Gazette. 


THE LITTLE MOORLAND PRINCESS. 


Fine cloth. 


Sixth Edition. i2mo. 

” A charming story.” — New York 
Observer. 

“ The plot is admirably contrived.” 

— Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. 

COUNTESS GISELA. 


$1.50. 

” Delightful for the exquisite manner 
in which its characters are drawn.” — 
Boston Evening Traveller. 


i2tno. Fine cloth. $1.50. 

” 'I'here is more dramatic power in 
this than in any of the stories by the 
same author that we have read.”— 
N. O. Times. 


Sixth Edition. 

“ One of the very best of its class, 
and is a genuine representation of 
court, burgher, and rural life in Ger- 
many. The translation is spirited and 
faithful.” — Philadelphia Press. 

TRANSLATED BY MRS. ELGARD. 

OyER YONDER. 

Fifth Edition. 8vo. With full-page Illustration. Paper. 30 Cts. 


merits of this author will find in it a 
pleasant introduction to the works cf 
a gifted writer.” — Daily Sentinel. 


“ ‘ Over Yonder’ is a charming novel- 
ette. The admirers of ‘ Old Mam’selle’s 
Secret’ will give it a glad reception, 
while those who are ignorant of the 

MAGDALENA. 

Together with "THE LONELY ONES,” by Paul Heyse. 

Fourth Edition. 8vo. With two full-page Illustrations. Paper. 35 Cts. 


” Paul Heyse’s ‘ Lonely Ones’ is an 
idyl — a perfect little picture in its 
*ray ” — Baltimore Statesman. 


“ Both of these stories are exceed- 
ingly clever and entertaining.” — R'eh 
mond Enquirer. 


PUBLICATIONS OF J. B. LIPPINCOTT CO. 


The “Wide, Wide World” Series. 

The Works of the Misses Warner. 

The WicJe, Wicle World. 12010. Two Steel Plates 
694 pages. Fine cloth. #1.75. 

C^lieeeliy. i2mo. Two Illustrations. 806 pages. Fine cloth. ^1.75. 

Tlie Hills ot* tlie Hhateinuc. lamo. 516 pages 

Fine cloth. $1.75. 

3 Xy Hrotlier’s Keeper. lamo. 385 pages. Fine cloth 
^1.50- 

Hollars and Cents. lamo 515 pages. Fine cloth. ^1.75 

Daisy. lamo. 815 pages. Fine cloth. $'2.00. 

Say and Seal. lamo. 1013 pages. Fine cloth. ^2.00. 

4 ®* Complete sets of the above volumes, bound in uniform style, can b. 
obtained, put up in neat boxes. 

The sale of thousands of the above volumes attests their popularity. They 
are stories of unusual interest, remarkably elevated and natural in tone and 
sentiment, full of refined and healthy thought, and exhibiting an intimate and 
accurate knowledge of human nature. 


Three Powerful Romances, 

By Wilhelmine Von Hillern. 

Only a Girl. From the German. By Mrs. A. L. Wistbr 
i2mo. Fine cloth. $2.00. 

This is a charming work, charmingly written, and no one who reads it 
can lay it down without feeling impressed with the superior talent of iti 
gifted author. 

X 5 y His Own 3 Hgllt. From the Get man. By M. S. i2mo 
Fine cloth. iSi.75. 

“ A story of intense interest, well wrought ." — Boston Commonwealth, 

A. Twofold Life. From the German. By M. S. x2mo 
Fine cloth, jji.75. 

It is admirably written, the plot is interesting and well developed, the styl* 
V gorous and healthy ." — Boston Saturday Evening Gazette. 

■ ■ 

Two Charming Novels, 

By the Author of ”The Initials.” 

C^nlts. By the Baroness Tautphcbus. lamo. Fine cloth. $1.75. 

At Odds. By the Baroness Tautphcbus. i2mo. Fine cloth |i.75 


TALDABLE WORKS OF REFEREES. 


Lippincott’s Pronouncing Biographical Dictionary. 

Containing complete and concise Biographical Sketches of the 
Eminent Persons of all Ages and Countries. By J. Thomas, 
A.M., M.D. Imperial 8vo. Sheep. ;^i5.oo. 2 vols. Cloth. 

$22.00. 

Allibone’s Critical Dictionary of Authors. 

A Dictionary of English Literature and British and American 
Authors, Living and Deceased. By S. AUSTIN Allibone, LL.D. 
3 vols. Imperial 8vo. Extra cloth. $22.50. 

Lippincott’s Pronouncing Gazetteer of the World. 

A Complete Geographical Dictionary. By J. Thomas and 
T. B.\ldwin. Royal 8vo. Sheep. $10.00. 

Allibone’s Dictionary of Prose Quotations. 

By S. Austin Allibone, LL.D. With Indexes. 8vo. Extra 
cloth. $5.00. 

Allibone’s Dictionary of Poetical Quotations. 

By S. Austin Allibone, LL.D. With Indexes. 8vo. Extra 
cloth. $5.00. 

Chambers’s Encyclopaedia. 

Americas Revised Edition. 

A Dictionary of Useful Knowledge. Profusely Illustrated with 
Maps, Plates, and Woodcuts. 10 vols. Royal 8vo. 

Chambers’s Book of Days. 

A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities connected with the Cal- 
endar. Profusely Illustrated. 2 vols. 8vo. Extra cloth. $8.00. 

Dictionary of Quotations, 

From the Greek, Latin, and Modern Languages. With an 
Index. Crown 8vo. Extra cloth. $2.00. 

Furness’s Concordance to Shakespeare’s Poems. 

An Index to Every Word therein contained, with the Complete 
Poems of Shakespeare. 8vo. Extra cloth. $4.00. 

Lempriere’s Classical Dictionary. 

Containing all the Principal Names and Terms relating to 
Antiquity and the Ancients, with a Chronological Table. 8vo. 
Sheep. $3.75. i6mo. Cloth. $1.50. 



PUBLICATIONS OF y 5. LIPPINCOTT ^ CO. 


Popular Standard Works, 

OF THE MOST APPROVED EDITIONS. 


ANCIENT CLASSICS FOR ENGLISH READERS. 

Embracing the Distinguished Authors of Greece and Rome. Edited by 
Rev. W. L. Collins. 20 vols. i6mo. Cloth, jjii.oo per vol. In set of 10 
vols. in box. Extra cloth. $15.00. 

BIGELOW’S LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 

Written by himself (Franklin). Edited from Original Manuscripts, printed 
Correspondence, and other Writings. By Hon. John Bigelow. 3 vols. 
With Portrait. Crown 8vo. Extra cloth. $7.50. 

FORSTER’S LIFE OF CHARLES DICKENS. 

By John Fokster, author of “ Life of Goldsmith,” etc. With Steel En- 
gravings and Fac-Similes. 3 vols. i2mo. Extra cloth. $6.00. 

HAZLITT’S LIFE OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE. 

Illustrated with 100 Fine Steel Engravings. 3 vols. Crown 8vo. Fine 
cloth, extra. $7.50. Cheap Edition. 3 vols. i2mo. Cloth. $4.50. 

PRESCOTT’S COMPLETE WORKS. 

New and Revised Edition. Edited by J. Foster Kirk. 15 vols. lamo. 
With Portraits from Steel, and Maps. Fine cloth, extra. $2.25 per vol. 

BULWER’S NOVELS. 

Complete in 25 volumes. With Frontispieces. The Globe Edition. i6mo. 
Bt)und in fine cloth. $1.00 per vol. The Lord Lytton Edition. 121110. Fine 
cloth, extra. $1.25 per vol. 

DICKENS’S WORKS. 

The Standard Illustrated Edition. Complete in 30 vols. 8vo. Fine cloth, 
extra. $3.00 per vol. The Charles Dickens Edition. Illustrated. i6 vols. 
i2mo. Fine cloth. $16.00 per set. Diamond Edition. Illustrated. 14 vols. 
i6mo. Paper cover. 35 cents per vol. 

LANDOR’S WORKS. 

The Works of Walter Savage Landor. New Edition. Edited by John 
Forster. 8 vols. With Portraits. Crown 8vo. Cloth. $32.00. 

ADDISON’S COMPLETE WORKS. 

Edited, with Notes, by Prof. Greene. With Portrait on Steel. 6 vols 
tamo. Cloth. $9.00. 

BYRON’S COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS. 

Edited by Thomas Moore. Illustrated with Steel Plates. 4 vols. tamo. 
Fine cloth, extra. $10.00. 

KIRK’S HISTORY OF CHARLES THE BOLD, 

Duke of Burgundy. By John Foster Kirk. 3 vols. 8vo. Fine cloth 
$9.00. 

RANDALL’S LIFE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON. 

By Henry S. Randall, LL.D. In 3 vols. 8vo. Cloth. $10.00, 


^“The above Works are also bound in a variety of handsome extra styles. 




I 






I ' ’ •''•I-' ' ,'• ■ - • •' , ■' • ‘•■■■•' ) . 


.• •• '.(■ > 


% 

S-- 


h I 


I'r ’ 


I 

M 


**■ '%!'** • '* ' ' '• ' ' 

i " .•• • 


I 

" y 



j >' 1 * 

V i* 





y I 


V-'v^’^T ^: ' ,'V'h>' 'r.:'- ' , r -.v ' ■ V 

■ ' ‘‘* \ j. ' ■'••■ '■' ■ 




;> 





• . m ^ ■_ *.ja& 


> . I I 


• 1 .• » 




■ y ,• ►' . . 






\ 


•t 


■;Z!;:. v*.nvV. ' . 




- -V 


Aii;' ■'" 



n , I 


. ', ■' '“‘f M ‘1 



V. 








J* ♦ *•' 





* ' 


!j 

> k ■ ” <j 

r>«/' 

■ V;/V;. 


' 


Vl' 


'»# ., ■ 
. *7 ^ • ‘' 

ir' ■-. •' 

' . . '» ' •• ^ 














. ■ ■ . 7 ' 




iA''^ • 


k. > > 



. '^. > - • 



v'.v- ■■:■" : 

^ *• • ■ V • ■ '•; I i , "• 

• u< . Ifr ■ ’ 


f. \ 


. c J 


* - 


>• ^ 


. '>v7 iTOf: 


1,. 




•.‘ (. 




' * l>r^ . ^ V 4 

■ - iTfcyV’l. ‘‘V* 




»'S 





!■«• * 


J/n (| ,4 j} k, , , i' 

. ' *l’( ' 



I • 




.'■''* ■, ;• ,- Aw 


“i 




(J- 


* f 


V ‘ 


. T 


f . -I 


*. • 


. 1 




^'1 


• ‘ r 









SM.y.J 


t ■ • 


I /4. 


• IV y V . \ 

r». 'jt'A' • . 



' "^s n \Y‘ 


i.'.Vl 


. >« 




1 » 

I if J'-IP-I^ 









• t 


^ t' 

» 

I 

f 


► 

r 


I 1 


I -c'^l 



I 

. r 



I 





« . 

'rf*.' 


I 




■ . ^ 


. . 

" \' , i 4 * 

.■> ■ *1 


J 


f 


I / 



• I 
I r 


' I 


1 . • . -5 ■ ‘. 




\ 4 


4 

' • / 



\ 


)i 




> 






n 


ir 




r|lN 




" ■ -n.;' ■'■ ’’"-I' 

t « “ ' u V < » 

r r - . 






V > 


'' 


u 


^7. 




«?> 


U\1 


,vv« 


*f / 


''< 1 - 


#♦ 


V** 




"/ 




i". (i 


•ito 








; -mXI 



.*;• , W 

' ' '1 




ht 


9 :^ 


Vi.' 




•15 


1 1 


r^' 


'i 




.1 ' 


/'■ 


'■ *■ -■,■ ,.'.r 


'>1’ 


< <« 


fVN 


r 

ai-'V-K ' ' V ,'. /•' ' • 

i': ' .. -'•■v 

^*%SCSv\.*: v*. ' C •v . •• . i. ' ^''' . -- ' 


Mj 




I'j*' 


.v> 


f^,^ ’ 


,f»- • 






!iiv; ! -> 




. a***.’,r •-.. J 9 ** 


i;A* 


\J1k 


y»h’ 


.• A* ' ' 

^ r - . •/ 

i *’r ''■ 

♦ ■. 

1 

I I 


.i^.- 




.>*' M 


u 


4 Ji ** * vj 

i < ^ PaU 


‘ i.,-c 

■' ,/i 


->' 






-li 


'•■f 




y' ^21“ V 
»i A * r ' .' 

^ ^ , ' ‘2l</ .i i ' -•^' ' 

|■'%',i'•■ ' ' l'"'j ■ ■ ■ 

V'i ' ’ ’‘i ’» ■ 





K,i 


WK 


» / 




'i /' . 




' 


%■ It*. 


( 


. <1 


f<4[i 


w* % 


1 1 


'1 v 

j-r t/Ay, 

■I, - 


» • ' >ivv- 

m'lAm 


If 






m 


:_' * ■’ ; 


•»' 






A 






mfisSHSMI'V’ ./f;v' ,. 

; < I 




. ' .• I ‘r 



V. 




' L 


> I 




‘/' '\ 


' >' 


': £ 




. 'A 


.•'? if 


, tt*- 


■II 


» f 






1’.? )' 




’ ImBP*' ’ ■ /'m *'' '' 

M I''' f .•• ■• • , '- ^ 

HVBbR. • » , “ 4 ♦ ' :i , , f ^ 

SSlISufclRT^ yAf'i.y ' 1 ^ ,’ ' ' 

mvTSAnffit ^ {'NV I • * . . 


■ * . 4 . * ' '• ' 


ll( ' 


'■ I '. 


m 


<■ ‘I >• ^^^ 


.',: 1 


ii ' 'j 


? 






" I' , ' f 

v»^ 

' •■ "V '' ,.vf-*!?i‘?, 'v; 

® ■ ' -wy^. 


T4 . 




y 


? i 


iv f 


•J. 


»• * 




f 


yj *'. 


1. • 


>/ 


’< ., ■ I -. 


11) 


w,<- 




h: 


p' 


v;r ;<v» 




' '< \ 




.tV.- 


. .M I 1 


V'fS <' 


•r,'f 


ii >', 


1 






iiii" 


A-l-. 


/-■"i 


’• ir 


. .'7 


i' ' ^ w t *' 1.“’ - ■ ' • 

;|;^/ v’J,V'' ''"f y. \' u 'f^- 

^ ^ r V 1' ■ ' ■ rirS^i ; vf>“ * ■ 

' ' ' 't ' / ' ' ’ 

'^•''" V, ‘w ''■■ ■ •■ ' ot'''’-'- 

f ' ■ 


■1 ^ 




# ' ^ 


r V » : -u ’ ‘ 'lx I 7 ‘ Wii'U 

n ” V.i'v.y 'l-’: \ >’ ' / 7. ; ;. 

twijw ^!i,■ Avif ^ ,(- y<4 ■'{-■• -r.-. .^1'*/ -ll •-'■'k ■*,*'** 'i '/ 

■'V^^ j •; \.* ■*■ ' ■ M / •’ ■ '^ if"’ ■ ■' "W 

jfe.. 





Vv*r. 

. .« 4 r ,. 1 , 1 - 

-h 





• -vl 


,..-,‘vV.,„. f ...v 

k .w;v y 




/' . 


# 3 * 

jk ' >1 . 

■r j/>' ‘ 



* ‘ ^ ' V i^. S' ‘ ' ’, . 'V. A ' > V ■ -> '■ aS^tm 

■ !l .''' i’ 1 ^,' r ? 4 “ H ' s'* ■- ' ' / * 1 < f . 4 "^^' - i "■' 


4 * Fl « f I * 

n* IRwr: :. f. 


k. 


'•' > • : ' ' v: r •/ 

’ • f , I < • ■ 





■N 


•JV 



7 ’. .v'»^. * 1.1 


*'4 

/-.r 

Ek 


J 


: 


r>« /, • ^ 

' '.. .r \,' V 

j* 


■i-m' 


^■ ‘'"■■f. «»%„>: : : ••'.y is 


1 ( 




'K 


f 


> ' i. 

• ; 

■' ■ , 
i-v 

I'/ ‘ 

I 


V. 


\ 

I* 


*• 


« 


■'■■ '-f :. 


' ,-. »/ • 
.••V. 


A' 


' « 
f/ 


I ■ 


.r \ 

!• tLWU^' fr' ^ ' ** - 




.'■ 1^.' 


. .■}. ' -' I 




■ ■ ■ 




* * 


*• »• 




■ » 

1 * 


\ 

t'»i' > ■ , ; ■ ; ... ■ •• V'l Vf'.i'/flW 

S® ■■: .:, 5 : ''*l ■■.■’.■• V .. ■■r.tlffiH 


• •'^. . 

v> 


tl'i«f ' II’ *A* ■*• -’^ ' U 1 ' • 

1 ‘ ‘ n' W n ^» • / 


^ 't.’ 






■Vi 

l *1 ’X' 


m 


Ml * •'1 1 


n; ¥• w • 






I > 


»• 1 


'^■ ' ' O. y : 


. 1 , ^ , V » . . . W ’•'' -* .^T** 




/t. 











«... ..iiifWA;-?'.’- 

V '. ttCTrt ''■'' 


I 


( r. ) 


■ST V JHP.bIAJm 







ii.i 


.■jn^-' ' ‘I * 


V I 


•A. 




'T.'k ■ , .. . 

^^v> -i iV.' ¥ X 



1 ^ aVi 


k . if \ 

' ■ • iu'i.'''’,,'''; 

ii .. ^ f 


A. 'M. 


HI 

X r *i . •* ‘’ • 


mlt:C ' ..... 


• I 


V ?\ 


*■! 


1. X 


‘..V^.l> 'V, 








